Presidential spokesperson tapped as new vice unification minister

President Yoon Seok Yeol tapped presidential spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung as the new vice minister of unification on Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung, who was tapped as new vice unification minister, speaks at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul on Monday. [NEWS1]

President Yoon Seok Yeol tapped presidential spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung as the new vice minister of unification on Monday.

"Based on her experience in media communication, she is expected to successfully promote unification policies to the public as vice minister," Lee Do-woon, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said in a briefing at the Yongsan presidential office.

Prior to her current post, Kim served as presidential secretary for unification affairs.

Kim began her career as a journalist at the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper.

She received a doctorate degree in sociology at Stanford University. She has held research positions specializing in North Korean human rights issues at Korea University and the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification. She also served as an assistant professor at Hanshin University.

Kim will be replaced by Jeong Hey-jeon, deputy secretary to the president for public relations planning, the presidential office said. She formerly worked as a journalist at media outlets including Chosun Ilbo and Maeil Business and later worked at McKinsey & Company.

Lee said he expects Kim as the presidential spokesperson "will be an excellent communication partner with the media in the future."

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]