Michelle Park Steel, the new U.S. ambassador to South Korea, began her official duties by submitting a copy of her credentials to Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. The meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral relations and address pending issues between the two nations.
The appointment of a new U.S. ambassador and her initial meetings with South Korean officials signal a renewed focus on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing key pending issues between the two allied nations.
Michelle Park Steel, the new U.S. ambassador to South Korea, has officially begun her duties by submitting a copy of her credentials to Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. Steel visited the foreign ministry to present the documents to the chief of protocol before meeting with Minister Cho.
Under diplomatic protocol, ambassadors assume their posts after submitting a copy of their letters of credence, a preliminary step before the formal presentation to the head of state. Steel arrived in Seoul on Thursday, filling a post that had been vacant for 18 months since the departure of former Ambassador Philip Goldberg in January 2025.
Steel's arrival comes at a critical juncture for Seoul-Washington relations, with several issues pending. These include South Korea's regulatory actions against U.S.-listed Coupang concerning a data breach, Seoul's investment commitments in the United States, and South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines.
Foreign Minister Cho expressed expectations that Steel, as the second Korean American ambassador to South Korea, will help resolve bilateral issues due to her direct access to Washington.
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