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On July 30th, Michelle Steel, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives for California, officially assumed her post as the 26th U.S. ambassador to Korea, ending an 18-month diplomatic vacancy followed by the departure of Phillip Goldberg in 2025.

During a press conference at Incheon International Airport shortly after Steel’s arrival, she pledged to strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance, aligning with the Trump administration’s diplomatic stance. 

As the second Korean American to serve as U.S. ambassador to Korea, Steel emphasized her personal connection with Korea: “I extend my warm greetings to the people of Korea. I was born in Seoul, but today I stand here representing the United States. I am deeply grateful to stand on this soil once again.”

While the recent Korea-U.S. relationship has been strained due to ongoing trade disputes and negotiations over the sharing of defense costs, Steel described the current alliance as “One of the world’s strongest alliances.”

Steel expressed her strong commitment to coordinating with Korea to ensure peace and security in this region, noting that “We will carry President Trump's vision for the region: stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before.”

Before her diplomatic appointment, during the first Trump administration, Steel co-chaired the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. 

Later, as a member of the republican party, Steel served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2021 to 2025, representing California's 48th and 45th congressional districts.  

Given her extensive experience as a legislative member with a deep Asian background, Steel was nominated by President Trump on April 13th, and her nomination was approved by the U.S. Senate on June 17th. 

Ambassador Steel’s husband, Shawn Steel, also has deep ties with the Republican Party: he has previously served as the chairman of the California Republican Party and remains a member of the Republican National Committee.

Experts note that the ambassador and her husband’s long interaction with the Republican Party may serve as a gateway for Seoul to communicate more directly with the White House. 

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Park Il, commented, “During her tenure, we expect Ambassador Steel, with her understanding of the Korea-U.S. alliance and the broader relationship, to make a meaningful contribution to strengthening ties and promoting friendship between our two peoples." 

Park further added, “Steel’s arrival should allow for more effective and closer diplomatic communication between the two governments, including advancement of the commitments outlined in the two countries' joint fact sheet signed at the 2025 APEC Gyeongju summit.”

Steel’s appointment as the U.S. ambassador to Korea has prompted foreign policy experts to present varying perspectives on whether her arrival will be the key to improving Korea-U.S. relations in the coming years. 

Go Myong-hyun, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS), commented that “Michelle Steel’s close relationship with President Trump could become a significant diplomatic asset for Seoul, allowing Korea to communicate more effectively with the White House.”

Lee Byong-chul, professor of far eastern studies at Kyungnam University, cautioned, “While Ambassador Steel’s political connections are an advantage, expectations should remain measured, as managing the Korea-U.S. relationship requires more than political access alone.”

With the 18-month diplomatic vacancy resolved by Steel’s arrival, the focus now shifts to whether the ambassador will effectively leverage her Korean background and bring notable improvements to the Korea-U.S. relationship.