The U.S. Embassy in South Korea announced on the 8th via X (formerly Twitter), “We introduce Michelle Steel, the new U.S. Ambassador to South Korea,” adding, “Ambassador Steel is expected to arrive in Seoul soon, and we look forward to strengthening bilateral relations.”

In the accompanying video, Steel, who alternated between English and Korean, said, “It is a great honor to be appointed as the next U.S. Ambassador to South Korea” and “I look forward to meeting you all in person soon.”

Steel completed the U.S. Senate confirmation process on the 17th of last month and has received the South Korean government’s agrément (approval for her appointment), and her arrival is anticipated shortly.

Steel will become the second Korean-American U.S. Ambassador to South Korea since former Ambassador Sung Kim, who served during the Obama administration (2011–2014).

The position of U.S. Ambassador to South Korea had remained vacant since former Ambassador Philip Goldberg, appointed by the Joe Biden administration, left his post in January of last year. The vacancy will be resolved after approximately 1 year and 6 months.

Born in Seoul in 1955, Steel is the daughter of immigrant parents who moved to the U.S. in 1975. She previously served as an elected member of the California Board of Equalization, Orange County Supervisor, and from 2021, as a Republican U.S. Congresswoman for four years.