​WASHINGTON, DC — The International Leadership Foundation (ILF) congratulates Ambassador Michelle Steel on her confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea.

Steel is one of the first Korean American women elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she served two terms representing California’s 45th and 48th Congressional Districts. During her time in Congress, she served on the House Ways and Means Committee and worked on issues including tax policy, economic growth, transportation, education, and U.S.–Asia relations.

Prior to Congress, Steel served on California’s State Board of Equalization and later as Supervisor and Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The daughter of Korean War survivors, she brings a unique personal perspective and a longstanding commitment to public service.

Steel earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Pepperdine University and an Executive MBA from the University of Southern California. She is fluent in Korean and Japanese.

As U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Steel brings extensive public service experience and a deep understanding of the cultural and economic ties that strengthen the longstanding alliance between the United States and South Korea.