Key facts
- Steel named modernizing the alliance, expanding economic opportunities and regional cooperation as her three priorities.
- Steel said Korean investment in the US creates jobs and strengthens US industrial capacity, calling it a win for both countries.
- Steel cited shipbuilding and batteries as areas of cooperation, naming LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI battery plants in the US.
- Steel said the alliance has helped deter conflict and defend Korea for more than 70 years.
US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Park Steel set out three priorities in a video posted on the embassy's YouTube channel on November 9, the day she marked her 100th day in the post: "modernizing our alliance, expanding economic opportunities and working with Korea to address regional challenges."
"None of these things can happen without trust and communication," Steel said. Asked what she would tell a young Korean who wonders why the alliance still matters, she said the two countries "can trust one another when it matters the most." She said the alliance has helped deter conflict and defend Korea for more than 70 years and "remains essential."
Steel also called for cooperation on cyber threats and the security implications of new technologies, saying the purpose is to protect people and give the next generation security to build their future.
On South Korean investment in the United States, Steel said it creates jobs and strengthens US industrial capacity while giving Korean companies closer ties with customers and room to grow. "It is a win-win for both of our countries," she said, citing shipbuilding and batteries.
She said the US wants to rebuild shipbuilding capacity and that Korean expertise could strengthen American shipyards. On batteries, she noted that LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI have invested in and now manufacture batteries in the US, and said demand for energy storage is creating opportunities for companies helping power American data centers.