U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Park Steel said Thursday that security and prosperity are closely linked and that the U.S.-South Korea alliance supports both.
In a post on X, Steel said she was “honored” to attend a luncheon hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, known as AMCHAM Korea, on Wednesday alongside Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea.
“Security and prosperity go hand in hand, and the U.S.-ROK Alliance delivers both because economic security is national security,” Steel wrote, using the acronym for South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea.
She thanked business leaders for “building our shared future.” She closed the post with the Korean phrase “같이 갑시다,” which translates roughly as “Let’s go together.”
Steel did not elaborate on what was discussed at the event. AMCHAM Korea is a business group representing U.S. companies in South Korea.
Steel, a former Republican congresswoman from California who was born in Seoul in 1955, arrived in South Korea on July 30 to take up her post. She presented her letter of credence to President Lee Jae Myung on Aug. 12. She is the first U.S. ambassador in Seoul since President Donald Trump returned to office, and the post had been vacant since Philip Goldberg left in January 2025.
In August, Steel met with AMCHAM’s chairman and U.S. business executives in her first engagement with business leaders since taking office.
Her arrival came as the two allies faced pending security and economic issues, including tensions over South Korea’s regulatory action against U.S.-listed Coupang over a data breach, Seoul’s investment pledges in the U.S. and the South’s push to build nuclear-powered submarines.
Steel has appeared frequently with Brunson since taking office. In August, the two laid a wreath at the Seoul National Cemetery to honor Korean War veterans. They also visited South Korea’s Defense Ministry together on Sept. 3.
