Trump Names Michelle Park Steel as New US Ambassador to Seoul

Kid of N. Korean War Refugees Becomes US Envoy

Michelle Park Steel — Newly-appointed US Ambassador to Seoul Michelle Park Steel was born in Seoul in 1955 from parents who fled as war refugees from N. Korea during the Korean War (1950-53). The former 2-term US congresswoman (GOP) spent her youth in Japan as her father was a S. Korean diplomat. She immigrated to the States at age 20.

President Donald Trump of the United States has appointed former Representative Michelle Park Steel, a Korean-American Republican who represented California from 2021 to 2025, as the new U.S. Ambassador to Seoul.

President Trump appointed her due to her Korean-American background and to enforce the “America First” policy. She would be the second Korean-American to serve after Sung Kim from 2011 to 2014.

According to the local news, “Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul welcomed the nomination, with foreign ministry spokesperson Park Il saying Korea is in close communication with the U.S. and that Steel, if formally appointed, ‘is expected to contribute to strengthening bilateral ties and promoting friendship between the two countries.’”

As an attorney, her key policy priorities include the U.S-Korea alliance, addressing issues with North Korea and countering China as she is an expert on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 

“Ms. Steel’s long record of achievement in elected positions and extensive service as a committed public service leader at local and national levels coupled with her overseas experience make her well-qualified to serve as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea,” according to the U.S. Department of State. 

Ambassador Steel used her experience in the CCP to underline Shanghai`s global interference in elections. In addition, Park views President Lee Jay-Myung`s administration’s handling of the alliance as disastrous and is considered one of Trump`s closest confidantes. 

In addition, Steel is a trusted associate within Trump’s circle along with former Representative Park Eun-ju. She advocates for solidarity between the U.S. and Korean right-wing groups. 

The newly appointed ambassador also supports a joint address to Congress by former President Yoon Suk-yeol. 

She views Lee Jae-myung’s diplomatic missteps—siding with Iran and thereby antagonizing the U.S. and Israel—as a major failure. She also aims to block Lee Jae-myung’s pro-China diplomatic trajectory. 

However, South Korea and India have been having discussions about trade, artificial intelligence, shipbuilding and other details to shift away from China. Along with India, South Korea also had discussions on trade with Vietnam planning to expand by 2030. 

In addition, Steel is a pro-Trump figure capable of communicating directly with Trump along with sharing strong conservative values with him. During President Trump`s first term, she participated in the President`s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. 

In Orange County, California, Steel served as the Supervisor and Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors from 2015 to 2021. She was the Chairwoman from 2020 to 2021. 

She also comes from a family of defectors from North Korea as both her parents and grandparents were North Korean defectors who ran a sawmill there. She is expected to take a hardline stance toward North Korea. 

Her father encouraged her to move to the U.S. at a very young age. She lived in Japan following her father`s postings as a diplomat and immigrated to the U.S. at age 20. She is both fluent in Korean and Japanese. 

Ambassador Steel`s mother had faced challenges as a woman running a small business navigating state regulations and tax laws. This motivated her to successfully run for the State Board of Equalization granting her a seat and representing 9 million constituents. She served from 2007 to 2015.

The newly appointed ambassador received her Bachelors of Science, Business Administration from Pepperdine University. She also received her Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California.