Kim Soo-kyung, spokesperson of President Yoon Suk Yeol's office was named as the new Vice Minister of Unification, according to Yoon's office Monday.

Kim, 48, has served as Yoon's spokesperson since December. Before joining the presidential office, she was formerly a journalist at the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a social welfare professor at Hanshin University and a secretary for unification in the presidential office.

Kim will replace the incumbent Moon Seoung-hyun, effective Tuesday. Yoon's office did not disclose Moon's next step.

Meanwhile, Jeong Hey-jeon, deputy secretary for public relations planning, will fill in Kim's role as Yoon's new spokesperson.

Before joining Yoon's office, Jeong was a career journalist, formerly working at Segye Ilbo, Maeil Business Newspaper and Chosun Ilbo. Jeong graduated from Harvard Kennedy School in the United States.