“Independent contractors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses in my home state of California already understand the devastating affects AB-5 had on their ability to provide for their families. This law curbed opportunities for people to work independently through the gig economy or independent contractor roles.”

American politician and diplomat, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea

Michelle Eunjoo Steel is an American politician and diplomat who serves as the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. She was nominated for the post on April 13, 2026, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 17, 2026, by a 55 to 39 vote. Her public career has centered on politics and diplomacy. The available facts place her in a high-profile foreign policy role representing the United States in South Korea.