Korea's ambassador to Bangladesh was tapped as the new spokesman of the foreign ministry, a senior ministry official said Thursday.

Ambassador Cho Tae-young, 54, is set to replace Cho Byung-jae, who quit early this month amid public criticism over the mishandling of a military pact with Japan.

"Ambassador Cho will soon be appointed as the new spokesman," the senior official said on the condition of anonymity.

The new spokesman-designate has served various capacities at the foreign ministry since 1981 and took up the post as Seoul's top diplomat in Bangladesh in 2010. (Yonhap)