U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel hosted a dinner for political figures from both the ruling and opposition parties at her official residence in Jeongdong, central Seoul, on the 21st.
According to political sources, the dinner was attended by Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party, and Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, along with Song Seok-joon, chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, and Kim Young-bae of the Democratic Party and Cho Jung-hoon of the People Power Party, who serve as committee liaisons for the Korea-U.S. Parliamentarians' Union. Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party, was also on the guest list but did not attend because of scheduling conflicts. Figures from outside politics also joined the gathering.
The dinner came as major issues between Seoul and Washington have piled up, including cooperation on the Strait of Hormuz and negotiations over investment in the United States. But rather than discussing specific agenda items, the event was largely an occasion for Steel to meet domestic figures for the first time, exchange greetings and build rapport, sources said.
Steel, a former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, is considered a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump. Since taking up her post on July 30, she has kept up an active schedule of on-the-ground visits, including trips to markets and churches.
She has also been broadening her contacts with political circles. After meeting the leaders of both parties at the National Assembly on the 15th, Steel visited Gokseong County, South Jeolla Province, on the 19th and joined Min Hyung-bae, mayor of the planned Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, in harvesting rice.
