"Hotteok and Finger Hearts"... US Ambassador Michelle Steel Visits Gwanghwamun and Namdaemun Market

First Korean-American Woman U.S. Ambassador to Korea
Visits Key Locations Across Seoul Soon After Taking Office
"Memories Rekindled... A Time of Rediscovery"

Michelle Steel, the first Korean-American woman to serve as the United States Ambassador to South Korea, is highlighting her ties to Korea by visiting places such as Gwanghwamun, Namdaemun Market, and Youngnak Church shortly after taking office. By personally touring various locations throughout Seoul and interacting with citizens, she continues to emphasize her commitment to strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance.

In a photo released on the 1st by Michelle Steel, the first Korean-American female U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, Ambassador Steel (right) and her husband, attorney Sean Steel, are posing with finger heart signs at the entrance of Namdaemun Market in Seoul. X (formerly Twitter)

On August 1, Ambassador Steel released photos on her social media, sharing a visit to Namdaemun Market in Jung-gu, Seoul. She wrote, "Returning to Namdaemun Market after such a long time brought back so many memories." She added, "While much has changed, the warmth, energy, and familiar scenes remain just as I remember. It's truly exciting to rediscover a Seoul that feels both familiar and new."

The released photos show her with her husband, attorney Sean Steel, making a hand-heart pose at the entrance of the market and smiling for commemorative photos with merchants while holding hotteok.

On July 31, she posted a photo taken in front of the King Sejong the Great statue at Gwanghwamun in Jongno-gu, stating, "Passing by the King Sejong statue reminded me once again of Korea's legacy of exceptional innovation and leadership. I look forward to the journey we will embark on together. Please join me."

Upon her arrival in Korea on July 30, she visited Youngnak Church in Jung-gu. Youngnak Church was founded by refugees who came south from North Korea during the Korean War, and it is known that Ambassador Steel’s parents also attended the church.

On the 30th of last month, Michelle Steel, the United States Ambassador to Korea, arrived through Incheon International Airport. Photo by the Airport Photographers Group

Ambassador Steel officially assumed her post as the first Korean-American woman U.S. Ambassador to Korea on July 30. Born in Seoul in 1955, she immigrated to the United States with her family in 1975. She previously served as an elected member of the California State Board of Equalization and as an Orange County Supervisor, and has been a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives for four years since 2021.

In an op-ed released on July 31, Ambassador Steel stated, "The rock-solid ROK-U.S. alliance continues to be a cornerstone for peace and security in the region, and I look forward to working with the Republic of Korea to ensure it continues to meet the needs of both our peoples."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.