Lee Charm

By Yun Suh-young

Lee Charm, the president of Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), was reappointed to serve a consecutive term, the organization said Monday.

Lee will serve for another year until July 29, 2013. His initial three-year term was to end at the end of this month.

Lee’s reappointment, however, doesn’t come as a surprise as it was much expected within the organization and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism because he had expressed his willingness to continue on for another year.

The KTO president’s term usually follows the President’s term. President Lee Myung-bak’s term ends next February.

Lee is the first KTO president in 20 years to be reappointed.

Lee, who is the first naturalized citizen to become the KTO head, was active in attracting foreign visitors to the country.

The tourism organization attracted 9.79 million tourists to the country last year, the highest number in tourism history. It is headed for a goal of 10 million by the end of this year.

Lee is also standing as a model for a local hotel chain run by the KTO, Benikea, for local tourists.

Lee is out of the country from Tuesday until Aug. 1 to promote Korean culture during the 2012 London Olympics. The KTO will be displaying works by Korean artists in collaboration with the Saatchi Gallery in London.