Newly appointed US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel visits the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
Newly appointed US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel visits the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

Newly appointed US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel has been emphasizing the importance of the South Korea-US alliance daily since taking up her post, maintaining an active social media presence. Shortly after beginning her official duties, she held introductory meetings with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Cheong Wa Dae National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac to discuss ways to advance the bilateral alliance. The moves are widely seen as an effort to ease pockets of domestic skepticism while highlighting her personal connection to Korea as an ambassador of Korean descent.

A senior diplomatic source said Friday that Steel and Wi had known each other for some time. "I understand the meeting was arranged partly as a welcome for Ambassador Steel upon her arrival," the source said.

A Cheong Wa Dae official confirmed that Wi received Steel for a courtesy call, adding that Steel had said she "would do her utmost for the continued development of the South Korea-US alliance while maintaining close communication with the National Security Office going forward."

Steel visited Government Complex Seoul on Tuesday to submit a copy of her credentials to the Foreign Ministry's chief of protocol and met with Minister Cho. She also held a separate meeting with Wi that day, during which the two sides are believed to have discussed ways to strengthen the alliance.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac holds a press briefing at the Chunchugwan briefing room at Cheong Wa Dae last month ahead of President Lee Jae Myung's visits to the United States and South America. [Yonhap]
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac holds a press briefing at the Chunchugwan briefing room at Cheong Wa Dae last month ahead of President Lee Jae Myung's visits to the United States and South America. [Yonhap]

Steel had contact with Wi when she served as a US House member and he was a diplomat. After Steel's nomination in April, Wi addressed questions about her political leanings, saying some reports had portrayed her as "somewhat excessively far-right, but that is not the case." He described her as a conservative politician who is close to President Donald Trump, adding that she would "play a good role in moving the South Korea-US relationship forward once she takes up the post."

On Wednesday, Steel met with US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson and agreed to maintain close coordination on security issues on the Korean Peninsula. Steel wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that she had "a meaningful conversation with General Brunson about our shared mission to defend peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," adding that she would "work closely together to further strengthen our combined defense posture and the ironclad South Korea-US alliance."

Brunson also posted on X, saying he looked forward to "our diplomatic and defense efforts moving in lockstep, working side by side to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."

Having met South Korea's top diplomat, the presidential national security adviser and the USFK commander all within her first week, Steel is expected to continue sharing her activities in South Korea through social media as she pursues active engagement. Her role will also be closely watched as a host of bilateral issues await attention — including working-level consultations on nuclear-powered submarine construction and nuclear energy cooperation under the joint fact sheet, as well as the Coupang Inc. dispute.

However, a meeting with President Lee Jae Myung has not yet been scheduled. Steel is expected to meet Lee officially at a formal credentials ceremony held jointly with other newly arrived ambassadors.


moone@heraldcorp.com