President Park Geun-hye's pick for the nation's new education minister, who will double as deputy prime minister for educational, social and cultural affairs, is an expert on education affairs.

Kim Myung-soo, 66, who studied education at Seoul National University, began his career as a middle school teacher in 1975.

After serving as an assistant professor at Seoul National University College of Education, he is now a professor at Korea National University of Education and the president of the Korean Educational Research Association.

Insiders say that Kim has experience ranging from elementary school to university and is also an expert in educational administration.

The nominee is widely evaluated among his colleagues as a gentle person who has many connections in education circles. (Yonhap)