By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Lee Cham, the German-turned-Korean media celebrity, has been appointed to the head of the nation's tourism body.
Lee will take the helm of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) for a three-year term. He will be the first naturalized Korean to lead a public corporation.
``As a person who became a Korean after being fascinated by the country's charm, I have always wanted to promote its attractions to foreigners, and that's why I applied for the KTO chief position,'' the 55-year-old said.
Lee was one of three final candidates for the position, with the other two being former Shilla Hotel general manager Lee Man-soo and Korea National University of Arts professor Jeon Ju-beom.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expects him to help develop the nation's tourism industry from a new point of view, improving hospitality culture and overseas marketing.
``Korea has many competitive elements, including natural scenery, history, philosophy and spiritual culture. But we Koreans have not been aware of their values. We should realize how precious our culture is, develop storytelling programs about it and promote them in a better way,'' he said.
For the goal, Lee said the KTO will develop education programs for those engaged in the travel industry and institute an exemplary guide system for local authorities and travel agents to follow.
He said he may lack experience in administration, but has good ability as a communicator. ``To develop tourism, we need pan-national agreement and cooperation, pan-governmental cooperation and international support. I think I have the ability to make such an atmosphere of communication, and an ability to display Korea's attractiveness to international society. A naturalized Korean becoming the KTO head can draw global attention and it will also be a chance to promote Korea and its tourism.''
Lee, who said he was moved by being offered the high-profile position, choked up for a while. ``Giving a naturalized Korean such as big role indicates that Korea has become an open society. As the first foreign native, I have responsibility to produce a good result, so that Korea can keep an open mind,'' he said.
Lee, whose German name is Bernhard Quandt, came to Korea in 1978. He legally became a Korean through naturalization in 1986, and used the name ``Lee Han-woo,'' meaning ``helping Korea or friend of Korea.''
In 2001, he changed the name into ``Lee Cham,'' which means ``participating in Korean society.''
Married to a Korean woman in 1982, he has a son and a daughter.
Lee has been actively working in various fields for more than two decades as a soap opera actor, college lecturer, author and an advisor to companies. He hosted a news program at TBS eFM until recently and introduced Korean food and tourism at KTV. He is also a member of the government-led Korean food globalization committee.
During the presidential election in 2007, Lee was an aide for the Lee Myung-bak camp's cross-country canal committee.
Lee's appointment also indicates a signal to open public posts to foreigners or naturalized Koreans. ``It shows the government's open-door policy in the recruitment of qualified persons for public posts.''