U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel hosted a dinner for leaders of the ruling and opposition parties on September 21 at the ambassador's residence in Jung-gu, Seoul.
According to political sources, the dinner was organized at Steel's invitation, with Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, and Song Seok-jun, chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, in attendance.
Steel, a prominent Korean American figure within the Republican Party and a close associate of former President Donald Trump, has been actively engaging with local leaders since her arrival in South Korea, aided by her proficiency in Korean.
Recently, Steel met with the leaders of both parties in the National Assembly on September 15 and participated in a rice harvesting event with former Gwangju mayor Min Hyung-bae in Gokseong, Jeollanam-do, on September 19.
The timing of this dinner is noteworthy, as it coincides with significant issues between the U.S. and South Korea, including discussions on military contributions in the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing negotiations regarding U.S. investment. Observers are keen to see if these topics were addressed during the meeting.
Currently, the U.S. is pressuring South Korea for military support in the Strait of Hormuz, while the South Korean government is seeking to avoid direct involvement in any conflict, focusing instead on ensuring the safety of commercial shipping and minimizing friction.
Negotiations on U.S. investment are also ongoing, with the South Korean government planning to report to the National Assembly on September 22. However, differences in positions regarding the conditions for 'commercial rationality' have raised concerns about the potential for a breakdown in talks.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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