The U.S. Senate confirmed former congresswoman Michelle Steel (R) Wednesday as ambassador to South Korea. In this April 2023 photo, Steel arrives at the White House for a state dinner with former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
The Senate has confirmed Michelle Steel, a former two-term Korean American congresswoman, as the United States' ambassador to South Korea.
The upper chamber approved Steel in a 55-39 vote on Wednesday (U.S. time), clearing the way for her to take the ambassadorial post as Seoul and Washington face a series of joint tasks, including "modernizing" their alliance and implementing bilateral security and trade agreements.
In April, U.S. President Donald Trump nominated her for the ambassador post, which has been left vacant since former Ambassador Philip Goldberg left Korea in January last year.
Steel would become the second Korean American to serve as the U.S.' top envoy to South Korea, following former Ambassador Sung Kim, who served in Seoul as ambassador from 2011-2014.
