Michelle Steel, the first Korean American woman to serve as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, officially began her duties on July 31. She is the first ambassador appointed to the position during Donald Trump's second term, filling a vacancy that had lasted over a year and a half.
According to the U.S. Embassy in South Korea, Steel raised the American flag alongside Marine security guards at the embassy on July 31, marking a "symbolic and meaningful moment" to start her tenure.
Steel arrived in South Korea through Incheon International Airport on July 30. Speaking to reporters at the airport, she expressed her hopes for continued cooperation with South Korea to ensure that the strong U.S.-South Korea alliance remains a cornerstone for peace and security in the region.
She added, "In Gyeongju, President Trump and President Lee Jae-myung opened a new chapter in our alliance," emphasizing her commitment to realizing Trump's vision and making the U.S.-South Korea alliance stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever.
Born in Seoul in 1955, Steel moved to the United States in 1975. She previously served as a commissioner for the California Board of Equalization and as a supervisor in Orange County before serving as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2021 to 2025.
Steel is the second Korean American to hold the position of U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, following former Ambassador Sung Kim, and she is the first Korean American woman to do so. The U.S. Embassy in South Korea had been operating under a chargé d'affaires since former Ambassador Philip Goldberg's departure in January 2025.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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