By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak appointed Shin Kak-soo, 54, previously second vice foreign minister, as first vice foreign minister, Friday. Shin replaces Kwon Jong-rak who tendered his resignation for health reasons.
Ambassador to Britain Chun Yung-woo, 57, was named to fill Shin's post, Cheong Wa Dae announced.
President Lee also appointed Yu Woo-ik, 59, former presidential chief of staff and now professor at Seoul National University, as ambassador to China, diplomatic sources said.
Former Minister of Knowledge Economy Lee Yoon-ho, 61, was named ambassador to Russia, the sources said.
"The ministry asked China and Russia to agree to the two appointments," he said.
The two are expected to assume the posts next February or March.
Yu, a graduate of Seoul National University (SNU), served as presidential chief of staff for about four months after the Lee administration was inaugurated in February last year.
He has also served as secretary general of the International Geographical Union (IGU).
The sources said he was one of the best candidates since the Chinese government had asked for a high-level figure as the next ambassador.
Meanwhile, newly-appointed Ambassador to Russia Lee worked as president of the LG Economic Research Institute from 1995 and 2000.
A graduate of Yonsei University, he was the first economy minister under the Lee administration.
Since joining the foreign ministry in 1975, First Vice Foreign Minister Shin has shown his expertise in international law and multilateral diplomacy.
A graduate of SNU, Shin worked as ambassador to Israel between 2006 and 2008 and began to serve as the second vice minister in July 2008.
Second Vice Foreign Minister Chun was chief negotiator to the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear programs in 2005 and served as a special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs between 2006 and 2008.
The first vice minister manages bilateral diplomacy while the second vice minister deals with multilateral diplomacy.