U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves Nomination of Michelle Steel as Ambassador to South Korea

Approved with 14 Votes in Favor, 8 Against
Final Confirmation Pending Senate Floor Vote

On June 4 (local time), the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the nomination of Michelle Steel, a former U.S. federal congresswoman of Korean descent, as the next U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.

Michelle Steel, former U.S. federal representative, nominated as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. Former U.S. federal representative

In a full committee meeting held that day, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 14 in favor and 8 against to pass Steel's nomination as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. The nomination will be subject to a final confirmation vote on the Senate floor in the coming days.

During her confirmation hearing held on May 20, Steel emphasized the need for a very strong alliance among South Korea, the United States, and Japan. Unlike the bilateral relationships between South Korea and the U.S. or the U.S. and Japan, which are often referred to as "alliances," the trilateral relationship among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan is typically described as "cooperation" or "collaboration," which are considered somewhat less formal than an alliance.

In response to some senators' requests to ensure that U.S. companies such as Coupang are not discriminated against in South Korea, Steel stated, "I will look into it." She further emphasized, "Just as all Korean companies in the United States receive equal treatment with U.S. companies, American companies operating in South Korea should also receive equal treatment with Korean companies."

Steel was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States, where she served as a federal congresswoman representing Orange County, California. President Donald Trump nominated her as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea on May 13. The position has remained vacant for over a year since former Ambassador Philip Goldberg, who was appointed during the Biden administration, left in January last year. If confirmed by the Senate, Steel would become the second Korean American to serve as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea after Sung Kim.

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