President Park Geun-hye has named Min Kyung-wook, former prime time TV news anchor at state-funded Korean Broadcasting System, as her new presidential spokesman, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.

Min, 51, replaces former spokeswoman Kim Haing, who left the post citing personal reasons late last year. Kim was one of two presidential spokespeople appointed by Park early last year, but held the post on her own after the president fired Yoon Chang-joong for his alleged misconduct during her last state visit to the United States.

“Min, who has rich experience in journalism as a TV reporter, anchor and foreign correspondent (to Washington D.C.), is a well-qualified person to deliver President Park’s state management philosophy to the people,” said Lee Jung-hyun, senior secretary to the president for public relations, at a news briefing.

Min said he was offered the post before the Lunar New Year holiday last week and accepted the president’s call to serve as his patriotic duty.

“I hope I can contribute to improving communication between (Cheong Wa Dae and) the people by working together with reporters (here),” Min said right after his name was announced by Lee.

The former anchor said he just knew President Park in the capacity of a reporter. He interviewed her in 2012 when she was running for president.

Min graduated from Yonsei University in 1989, majoring in public administration, and joined KBS in 1992. He built up his career covering politics and took up the anchor job for KBS evening news for three years, from 2011 to 2013.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)