New U.S. Ambassador Steel set to arrive in S. Korea on Thurs.

Go to Contents Go to Navigation Facebook X More Pinterest Linked in Tumblr Reddit Facebook Messenger Copy URL URL is copied. OK By Oh Seok-min SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- New U.S.

Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel is set to arrive in Seoul on Thursday, becoming the first U.S. envoy to assume the post since President Donald Trump returned to office, sources said.

Steel is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, at around 3:20 p.m. from Los Angeles, according to the sources.

She was nominated by Trump in April and confirmed by the U.S. Senate last month.

The ambassadorial post has been vacant since Philip Goldberg left South Korea in January last year. This screen capture from Michelle Steel's Facebook page shows the new U.S.

ambassador to South Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) The submission of copies of her credentials is expected to take place as early as next week, as Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and the foreign ministry's chief of protocol are currently accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on his trip to South America and are scheduled to return early next week, the sources added. Before formally beginning their duties, newly appointed foreign ambassadors are required to present copies of their credentials to the chief of protocol at the foreign ministry.

U.S. ambassadors also traditionally pay a courtesy call on the foreign minister on that occasion.

A Korean American Republican politician, Steel was born in Seoul in 1955 and immigrated to the United States in the mid-1970s. She served two terms in the U.S.

House of Representatives representing California from 2020 to 2024. Steel is the second Korean American to serve as the top U.S.

envoy to South Korea, following Sung Kim, who served in Seoul from 2011 to 2014. Responding to a question from Yonhap News Agency in Washington last week, Steel described strengthening the South Korea-U.S.

alliance as her "top priority." Her arrival comes as Seoul and Washington face a series of pending security and economic issues, including South Korean investment in the U.S.

, civilian nuclear cooperation, Seoul's push to build nuclear-powered submarines and ongoing efforts to modernize the decades-old alliance. Steel's nomination had drawn criticism from some progressive civic groups here, which view her as a conservative figure. South Korean government officials, however, said she has a firm understanding of the importance of the South Korea-U.

S. alliance and is committed to cooperating with the Seoul government. "South Korea and the U.

S. have a wide range of issues to work on together amid the rapidly evolving security and economic landscape," a foreign ministry official said. "We welcome Ambassador Steel's arrival and hope it will help advance discussions on those issues."

graceoh@yna.co.kr(END) Related Articles FM Cho urges faster progress in talks with Rubio on nuclear pact revision, submarine project: official (3rd LD) S.

Korea, U.S., Japan vow robust deterrence posture against N.

Korea at ministerial talks (News Focus) S. Korea seeks deeper regional partnerships at ASEAN meetings amid fragmented global order (2nd LD) S. Korea, U.

S., Japan sign MOU for cooperation on small modular reactor deployments New U.S.

envoy hails S. Korea's shipbuilding cooperation as expanding alliance into 'new' territory New U.S.

Ambassador Steel says she will depart for S. Korea next week MORE(+1) CLOSE Keywords #U.S.

ambassador Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Police drop underage dating charge against actor Kim Soo-hyun S. Korea formally completes development of homegrown KF-21 fighter jet Nam Joo-hyuk to star in new Disney+ crime thriller 'Code' BTS' 'Arirang' returns to top 10 on Billboard 200 BTS' 'Butter' tops 1.1 bln views on YouTube Most Saved (LEAD) S.

Korea, U.S. open shipbuilding partnership center to advance MASGA initiative S.

Korea formally completes development of homegrown KF-21 fighter jet Nam Joo-hyuk to star in new Disney+ crime thriller 'Code' (3rd LD) SK Group chairman ordered to pay 944 bln won in asset division to ex-wife Trump threatens 'substantial' Section 301 tariffs on EU after Google fine Most Viewed All Categories S. Korea formally completes development of homegrown KF-21 fighter jet Police drop underage dating charge against actor Kim Soo-hyun KRX activates sell-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp decline Bourse operator issues circuit breaker for KOSPI on sharp fall (LEAD) BTS says it will not submit music for next year's Grammys Most Viewed More Most Viewed Photos N. Korea marks 73rd anniv.

of Korean War armistice Mass rally in Pyongyang KOSPI dips below 6,000-pt N. Korea marks 73rd anniv. of Korean War armistice prev New U.

S. Ambassador Steel set to arrive in S. Korea on Thurs.

Next New U.S. Ambassador Steel set to arrive in S.

Korea on Thurs. Main Article Right Now Fed holds key interest rate steady in 9-3 decision Lee arrives in Santiago for summit with President Kast New U.S.

Ambassador Steel set to arrive in S.