I am covering trend, food and fashion. Previously, I covered diplomacy, city, environment and unification.
Ex-construction minister appointed KTO chief
By Kim Rahn
Jung Chang-soo
By Kim Se-jeong
Jung Chang-soo, former construction and transportation vice minister, has been named the new head of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Friday that Jung, 58, will lead the tourism body for three years, starting Monday.
Three candidates were selected from applicants for the post. After a review at the public organization management committee under the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the culture ministry recommended Jung and President Park Geun-hye approved the choice.
Jung was born in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, and majored in public administration at Sungkyunkwan University. Passing the state exam for public servants in 1979, he worked for Gangwon Provincial Government and joined the Ministry of Construction and Transportation, the predecessor of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, in 1995.
Jung took various positions at the ministry, including vice minister. He was appointed CEO of Incheon International Airport in June 2013, but quit nine months later to run for Gangwon governor, an attempt that failed.
He also was a visiting professor at China’s University of International Business and Economics and at Kyung Hee University’s Graduate School of Tourism.
He also worked at President Park’s campaign camp during the presidential election.
Jung’s predecessor, Byun Choo-suk, resigned for “health reasons” in April, with two years of his term left. There were rumors he had conflicts with other government officials, but he denied that. Byun also was at the election camp.