Seoul: Michelle Park Steel, the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to South Korea, officially began her tenure by meeting with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and submitting a copy of her credentials on Tuesday. The meeting marked the start of Steel's diplomatic duties in the country.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Steel visited the South Korean foreign ministry, where she handed over her credentials to the ministry's chief of protocol. This submission is a standard practice under diplomatic protocol, allowing newly arrived ambassadors to assume their roles before the formal presentation ceremony with the head of state. Steel's visit included a courtesy call on Minister Cho, where they discussed measures to strengthen bilateral relations.

Steel was accompanied by her husband, Shawn Steel, during her visit to the ministry. She refrained from responding to reporters' questions upon her arrival. The foreign ministry noted that the discussions between Cho and Steel would focus on enhancing the partnership between the two nations.

Having arrived in South Korea on Thursday, Steel is the second Korean American to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the country. Her appointment fills an 18-month vacancy following the departure of former Ambassador Philip Goldberg, who held the position from July 2022 until January 2025.

Steel's tenure begins at a critical juncture for the relationship between Seoul and Washington, with several key issues on the agenda. These include concerns over South Korea's regulatory actions against U.S.-listed Coupang due to a significant data breach, investment commitments made by Seoul in the U.S., and South Korea's ambitions to develop nuclear-powered submarines.