President Park Geun-hye promoted Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun to first vice foreign minister and another career diplomat Cho Tae-yul to second vice foreign minister Wednesday as she selected 20 new vice ministerial officials, her spokeswoman said.

Senior unification ministry official Kim Nam-sik was promoted to vice minister, while a regional prosecutor's office chief, Kim Hak-ui, was named as vice justice minister and senior industry ministry officials Kim Jae-hong and Han Jin-hyun as first and second vice ministers, respectively.

Park made the selections based on whether candidates have expertise in their respective areas and if they are appropriate for realizing her philosophy in state affairs, the spokeswoman said.

Park plans to name the vice defense minister after minister nominee Kim Byung-kwan takes office, Kim said. (Yonhap News)