[Anchor]

Michelle Steel assumed office today (the 30th) as the new U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, filling a vacancy that lasted for a year and a half. Following former Ambassador Sung Kim, she is the second Korean-American to hold the post and the first Korean-American woman to do so. Attention is focused on whether this will accelerate discussions on pending bilateral issues such as trade and security.

Reporter Kim Hye-young has more.

[Reporter]

Arriving in South Korea this afternoon, newly appointed U.S. Ambassador Michelle Steel delivered her initial greetings in Korean.

[Michelle Steel / U.S. Ambassador to South Korea: I respectfully greet the people of South Korea. I was born in Seoul, but I stand here representing the United States.]

Ambassador Steel stated that South Korea and the United States should jointly realize U.S. President Trump's vision for the alliance.

[Michelle Steel / U.S. Ambassador to South Korea: Together, we will realize President Trump's vision for this alliance, making it stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever before.]

Born in Seoul in 1955 and immigrating to the United States in 1975, Ambassador Steel is a former two-term U.S. Representative. During her tenure in the House, she took the lead in introducing bills to check China and protect the human rights of North Korean defectors.

Known for her conservative stance advocating a hardline approach toward North Korea and China, she has also aligned with the Trump administration's "America First" policy.

[Michelle Steel / U.S. Ambassador to South Korea (last May): I believe that just as South Korean companies in the U.S. receive fair treatment, U.S. companies operating in South Korea must receive equal treatment as well.]

While Ambassador Steel's arrival fills the 18-month diplomatic vacuum, a formidable array of pending issues remains between Seoul and Washington.

Tasks are piled up, including trade matters such as the Coupang issue raised by the U.S. side regarding discrimination and investments in the U.S., as well as security tasks that have faced stalled progress, such as nuclear cooperation and the construction of nuclear-powered submarines.

Ambassador Steel will submit a copy of her credentials to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs next week to begin her official duties.

(Camera detained by Cho Choon-dong | Video edited by Won Hyung-hee)