According to the U.S. government-funded international broadcaster Voice of America (VOA), the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 14 to 8 in favor of Steel's nomination on June 4. The U.S. Ambassador to South Korea is officially appointed after passing both the committee review and the full Senate vote. If Steel's nomination is confirmed by the Senate, she will become the second Korean American to hold the position, following former Ambassador Sung Kim.
Steel, a Korean American born in Seoul, previously served as a U.S. Representative from California. During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 20, she emphasized strengthening the U.S.-South Korea alliance and addressing issues related to American companies' access to the South Korean market.
Trade issues between the U.S. and South Korea were also discussed during the confirmation process. According to Reuters, Steel stated that she would verify the sources and plans for the $350 billion investment commitment from South Korea to the U.S. She also expressed her intention to address non-tariff barriers in the agricultural and digital services sectors.
The position of U.S. Ambassador to South Korea has been vacant for nearly 1 year and 5 months since former Ambassador Philip Goldberg left in January of last year. If confirmed by the full Senate, Steel will become the first U.S. Ambassador to South Korea under the Trump administration's second term.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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