ED Trump's envoy pick
Michelle Park Steel, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to South Korea / Yonhap
Nomination offers opportunity to strengthen Korea-US alliance
Michelle Park Steel, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to South Korea, is widely regarded as a trusted ally of the U.S. leader. Trump has described her as one of the strongest congresswomen in the United States and an “America First patriot” whose family fled communism. Her nomination could provide an opportunity to improve communication between Seoul and Washington.
If the Lee Jae Myung administration succeeds in building a constructive relationship with Steel, it could help restore the Korea-U.S. alliance to a more stable footing. In this regard, her nomination offers cautious optimism for improving bilateral ties amid global geopolitical disruptions.
If Trump's nominee secures U.S. Senate confirmation, Seoul should move to strengthen communication with Steel to explore ways to narrow differences on trade and diplomatic issues. Restoring bilateral relations to their previous level is more critical than ever.
Her nomination is also historically significant. If confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate, Steel, a former two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, would become the first Korean-born woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to South Korea. She would also be the second ethnic Korean to hold the post, following Sung Kim, who was appointed by President Barack Obama and served in South Korea from 2011 to 2014.
Unlike Kim, a career diplomat, Steel is a political appointee. The ambassadorial post at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul has remained vacant for 15 months since the departure of former Ambassador Philip Goldberg, raising concerns in Seoul. Her nomination has therefore been welcomed as a timely development.
However, the confirmation process may take several months, based on precedent.
Steel is known for her hard-line stance on North Korea and China, and for her strong opposition to communism. In a January 2020 op-ed titled “South Korean Leadership Hindering Denuclearization Efforts,” she criticized the Moon Jae-in administration’s engagement-focused North Korea policy, arguing that such an approach risked worsening the situation. Indeed, Pyongyang continued its provocations despite Seoul’s conciliatory gestures.
Lee's approach to North Korea and China is not markedly different from that of his predecessor. Like Moon, Lee emphasizes engagement with Pyongyang, arguing that confrontation is counterproductive and the best way to build peace on the Korean Peninsula is to create the conditions where the two Koreas no longer feel the need to fight one another.
Lee has also softened South Korea’s stance toward China, highlighting its importance as a key trade partner.
This approach, particularly toward China, has contributed to friction with Trump, with some of his former aides having characterized Lee as pro-China.
At the same time, Trump's tariffs and “America First” policies have placed additional strain on the Korea-U.S. alliance. A lack of alignment on foreign policy and security issues at this critical juncture risks further weakening ties between Seoul and Washington.
Against this backdrop, Steel’s nomination could present an opportunity to repair the alliance. As a trusted Trump ally, Steel may facilitate more frequent and candid dialogue between the two countries, helping both sides better understand each other’s positions and identify areas for compromise.
Compared to career diplomats, political appointees like Steel can sometimes operate with greater flexibility, particularly when strong personal rapport is established.
Her personal background also adds a unique dimension. As the child of a parent who fled North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War, and having spent part of her youth in Japan before immigrating to the United States, Steel is trilingual and culturally well-positioned. This may prove valuable in strengthening trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan.
Ultimately, the Lee administration should carefully prepare its approach to working with Steel, leveraging her position as a key intermediary to help bring Seoul and Washington closer together and restore the alliance to a more stable and cooperative state.