President Lee Myung-bak named Ahn Ho-young, ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, as the first vice foreign minister and Kim Sung-han, international relations professor at Korea University, as second vice foreign minister, said Cheong Wa Dae, Friday.

“Ahn has vast experience in foreign affairs and trade with excellent work achievements and good managerial ability,” the Presidential Office said in a statement.

Ahn was a sherpa during the G20 Seoul Summit hosted by Korea.

After graduating from Seoul National University with a major in international relations in 1978, he joined the Foreign Ministry and served various posts, including deputy minister for trade and director-general of the multilateral trade bureau.

Kim is a former head of the U.S. research department at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security.

“Kim’s policymaking ability in the international politics and foreign affairs sector is deemed outstanding,” Cheong Wa Dae said.

To reform the Foreign Ministry, President Lee recruited an outsider for the second vice foreign minister post, it said.

Cheong Wa Dae also named Kim Byoung-kook, president of the Korea Foundation, as the first chief of the Korea National Diplomat Academy which will open in March.

His various experiences as a professor, a research institute director and a presidential adviser on foreign affairs and national security helped him earn the spot, the presidential office said.

The diplomat academy will be integrated with the current Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security in March.

Kim served as president of the East Asia Institute from 2002 to 2008. He was senior secretary on foreign affairs and national security at Cheong Wa Dae in 2008.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)