Ambassador Steel says she is 'delighted' to serve in her home country, pledges to build a stronger alliance

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook (right) poses for a photo with Michelle Steel, the new US ambassador to South Korea, ahead of their meeting at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu on Wednesday. [Office of the Prime Minister]
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook (right) poses for a photo with Michelle Steel, the new US ambassador to South Korea, ahead of their meeting at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu on Wednesday. [Office of the Prime Minister]

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook met newly appointed US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel on Wednesday to discuss the future direction of the South Korea-US alliance.

Welcoming Steel to her post at Government Complex Seoul, Han said the alliance had served as the foundation of South Korea's economic development and that the two countries were expanding cooperation beyond security into areas including the economy and culture.

Han also asked Steel to work toward the continued advancement of bilateral relations throughout her tenure.

"The two countries will be able to achieve even greater results by expanding mutual investment and economic cooperation — particularly in advanced industries such as shipbuilding, semiconductors and AI," Han said.

Steel, who was born in Seoul, said she was "very pleased" to take up her post as US ambassador in her home country. "I will work to ensure that our two countries, bound by blood, become an even stronger alliance through deeper cooperation across a wide range of areas, including security and investment," she said.

Steel added that she was impressed by how much South Korea's cultural standing — through hansik and K-pop, among other things — had risen since she left the country, alongside its economic growth.


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