U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel invited leaders from both ruling and opposition parties to her residence in Jung-gu, Seoul, for a dinner on September 21.
According to political sources, the dinner was organized at Steel's invitation, with attendees including Han Byung-do, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, and Song Seok-jun, chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.
Steel, a prominent Korean American figure within the Republican Party and a close associate of former President Donald Trump, has been actively engaging with the public 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 gathering has drawn attention, as it coincides with significant issues between the two countries, including discussions on troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing negotiations regarding U.S. investment.
Currently, the U.S. is pressuring for military support in the Strait of Hormuz, while the South Korean government is seeking to avoid direct involvement in any conflict while ensuring the safety of civilian vessels and minimizing friction.
Negotiations on U.S. investment are also facing challenges, as the South Korean government plans to report to the National Assembly on September 22. However, differences in positions regarding the condition of 'commercial viability' have raised concerns about the possibility of a breakdown in talks.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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