US Ambassador Michelle Steel to Arrive in Seoul, Boosts Shipbuilding

Michelle Steel, the newly confirmed U.S. ambassador to South Korea, announced that she will travel to Seoul next week, emphasizing that strengthening the U.S.–South Korea alliance is her top priority.

During an event marking the opening of the Korea‑U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center in Washington, Steel highlighted the $150 billion shipbuilding cooperation agreed in the bilateral trade and investment deal. She cited projects such as Hanwha Group’s $5 billion Philadelphia shipyard plan, HD Hyundai’s investment fund with Cerberus Capital Management, and Samsung Heavy Industries’ partnership with Vigor Marine, describing the collaboration as an expansion of the alliance into a "new, incredibly important territory."