On August 21, Cho Jung-sik, Speaker of the National Assembly, met with Michelle Steel, the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, and stated, "If a U.S.-Korea Congressional Alliance is established, it will greatly benefit the relationship between our two countries." He emphasized the need for a similar exchange group in the U.S. Congress to enhance legislative cooperation.
Ambassador Steel also highlighted the importance of the U.S.-Korea alliance, expressing her willingness to help, saying, "If I can contribute, I would like to actively assist."
During their meeting at the National Assembly, Cho noted, "The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea has a U.S.-Korea Congressional Alliance with 161 members from both ruling and opposition parties, and I have served as co-chair. It would be beneficial for the U.S. Congress to have a similar group, but there is currently no suitable counterpart." He further mentioned Steel's previous involvement in U.S.-Korea legislative exchanges during her time as a member of the House of Representatives, adding, "If a U.S.-Korea Congressional Alliance is formed in the U.S. Congress, it will provide greater support for our bilateral relationship."
In response, Steel remarked, "Reviving our relationship is extremely important," and emphasized that communication among lawmakers and at the congressional level is crucial. She acknowledged her experience working in the National Assembly, stating, "I understand how important it is to shape foreign policy and international relations," and stressed the significance of legislative diplomacy given the longstanding 73-year tradition of the U.S.-Korea alliance.
Steel served as a U.S. House Representative from 2021 to 2025 and was appointed as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea on July 30 after being nominated by President Donald Trump in April and confirmed by the Senate in June.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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