U.S. Ambassador Steel visits MacArthur statue; actions after 'turbulence' remark on ROK-U.S. alliance draw attention
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- 2026-10-29 15:36:14
- Updated
- 2026-10-29 15:36:14
The visits are drawing attention because they came shortly after Ambassador Steel said the ROK-U.S. alliance had run into turbulence. She appears to have underscored the importance of the alliance by highlighting the significance of U.S. participation in the Korean War.
According to diplomatic sources on the 29th, Steel visited Jayu Park in Jemulpo-gu, Incheon, on the 27th, where a statue of General Douglas MacArthur stands. During the Korean War, MacArthur successfully led the Battle of Incheon. General MacArthur is a symbolic hero of the ROK-U.S. alliance.
Steel wrote on X, her social media platform, “I briefly stopped by General MacArthur’s statue in Incheon. Standing there, I was reminded once again of General MacArthur’s leadership in the historic 1950 Battle of Incheon and of the journey the two countries have traveled together since then.”
The day before visiting the MacArthur statue, on the 26th, Steel had breakfast with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and discussed the ROK-U.S. alliance. Cho said, “At breakfast with U.S. Ambassador Steel, I said that there is no problem as long as you fasten your seat belt securely when a plane passes through turbulence, and the U.S. ambassador agreed as well.”
Last week, Steel also visited the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea in Busan and looked at the memorial wall listing Korean War dead. On social media, Steel said, “I reaffirmed solidarity with the countries that sent troops to defend freedom and democracy during the Korean War,” and, “I pay tribute to all those who devoted themselves and gave their lives to protect the Republic of Korea.” Steel also wrote, “As we mark United Nations Day, I looked back on the history the ROK and the U.S. have shared.”
[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter