President Lee names new vice foreign ministers

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Friday reshuffled two vice
ministerial posts of the foreign ministry, following the recent resignation of
Kwon Jong-rak as the first vice foreign minister, the presidential office said
Friday.
Shin Kak-soo, the second vice foreign minister, was appointed as the first vice
foreign minister to succeed Kwon, who stepped down for health reasons, said the
office.
Chun Yung-woo, the South Korean ambassador to Britain, was named the second vice
foreign minister to replace Shin, it said.
Chun, a graduate of Pusan National University, joined the ministry in 1977 and
served as Seoul's chief envoy to the six-party talks on the North Korean
denuclearization from 2006 to 2008. He has served in Britain since May 2008.
Shin, who joined the ministry in 1975, is known for his expertise in
international law and multilateral diplomacy. He has served as Seoul's ambassador
to Israel from 2006 to 2008 after working as deputy ambassador to the United
Nations for two years.
The first vice foreign minister is in charge of bilateral diplomacy, while the
second vice foreign minister is responsible for multilateral diplomatic affairs.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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