Washington: New U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel announced that she will leave for Seoul next week, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the Seoul-Washington alliance as her primary goal.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Steel made these remarks while attending the opening event of the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center (KUSPC) in Washington. This center aims to support South Korea's planned $150 billion investment in the U.S. shipbuilding industry. In response to further inquiries, Steel directed Yonhap News Agency to the State Department for additional information.

The ambassador is expected to depart for South Korea around Wednesday next week. Her arrival comes at a crucial time as Seoul and Washington are working on several critical issues, including the implementation of agreements related to security, trade, and investment, as well as efforts to modernize their longstanding alliance.

Steel will be taking over a position that has been vacant since former Ambassador Philip Goldberg left in January of the previous year. Notably, Steel will be the second Korean American to serve as the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, following in the footsteps of Sung Kim, who held the position from 2011 to 2014.