SEOUL, July 31 (Yonhap) -- The following is the full text of an op-ed written by Michelle Park Steel, the new U.S. ambassador to South Korea, for Yonhap News Agency.

The U.S.-Republic of Korea Alliance: Strong, Modern, and Results-Oriented

By Ambassador Michelle Park Steel

The United States and the Republic of Korea share one of the world's strongest alliances.

Now, at this critical time, we must join together to write the next chapter in the Alliance, thereby ensuring it remains results oriented and forward leaning.

It is the honor of a lifetime to have been chosen by President Donald J. Trump to serve the American people as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Korea and to strengthen the friendship between our two nations.

My family and I, like so many other Korean-American families, are a living testament to the enduring bond between our two nations.

I was called to enter public service out of a sense of duty to my family. My mother operated a small garment shop that received unfair treatment from the state tax agency. Her business earned little money, and she spoke only a few words of English. She felt she had no voice, and the only solution was to simply pay the unjust bills.

That motivated me to enter public service, first serving at the very agency that had targeted my mother. I believed then – as I do now – that our leaders must serve the people. Government should not harass or intimidate but rather must work for the benefit of everyone – to help our entrepreneurs and businesses thrive, to protect our most vulnerable, and to support innovators that transform our world.

During my time in the United States House of Representatives, I focused on the global security challenges impacting the Indo-Pacific region, fought for greater economic prosperity and trade, and advanced democratic values and human rights for all peoples.

Now, as I return to my birthplace as a representative of President Trump, I am deeply honored and humbled by the responsibilities of serving the American people.

The friendship between our two nations reaches back more than 140 years. Our Alliance was forged in war and secured by the blood of those who stood shoulder-to-shoulder to defend freedom. It has been proven, again and again, through unwavering trust.

The United States and the Republic of Korea share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance, grounded in our Mutual Defense Treaty, extended nuclear deterrence, and deep economic ties.

Since 1953, the Alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea has been the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity for Northeast Asia, the broader Indo-Pacific, and beyond. Our economic ties, our combined defense posture, and the enduring friendship between our peoples are evidence of a partnership that serves both nations and maintains the stability of the region.

Under President Trump's leadership, the United States is modernizing and deepening our ironclad Alliance in unprecedented ways.

In Gyeongju last October, President Trump and President Lee opened a new chapter in our Alliance, and President Trump became the first leader the Republic of Korea has ever welcomed for a second state visit.

As the President's representative to the ROK, I will be committed to faithfully executing the vision that he laid out in Gyeongbu. Together, we must rebuild and expand critical industries, address the strategic threats to the Alliance, and defend our shared democratic principles.

Much work lies ahead, and we must not underestimate the challenges. While we have made good progress on many shared priorities, others require additional attention, frank conversations, and a willingness by both sides to cast aside our differences and chart a way forward for our mutual benefit. I am confident that our combined efforts will ultimately strengthen the foundation of our relationship for decades to come.

I look forward to working with the Republic of Korea to ensure that our ironclad Alliance remains the linchpin of peace and security in the region, and that it continues to meet the needs of both our peoples.

Together, we will carry President Trump's vision for this Alliance forward — safer, stronger, and more prosperous than ever before.

(END)

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