South Korea has been elected as a member of a U.N. council in charge of overseeing economic and social issues, keeping its membership in the body for 12 consecutive years, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

According to the ministry, South Korea was chosen to keep its membership in the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) from 2017-2019 in an election held in New York on Tuesday (local time).

China, the United Arab Emirates and Tajikistan were other Asia Pacific countries elected as council members.

This marks 12 straight years for South Korea to be a member of the ECOSOC. It first became a member in 2008.

The ECOSOC is a U.N. body responsible for overseeing world economic and social issues that range from human rights and development to crimes and drugs. It coordinates the work of the 14 U.N. specialized agencies and 10 functional commissions under its wing.

"Our country is leading discussion on major issues through its membership and the president status of the U.N. ambassador," the ministry said. "We will continue to work to contribute to economic, social and development agendas for the next three years in the U.N. and the international community.

Since last July Oh Joon, the country's ambassador to the U.N., has been serving as chair of the ECOSOC. His term is to end next month. (Yonhap)