Reporter appointed as a presidential secretary for tourism

Park Kang-sup

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Park Kang-sup, 55, a travel reporter at the Kukmin Ilbo, was named secretary for tourism under the Presidential Office for Education and Culture, Cheong Wae Dae announced Friday.

The position has been vacant for eight months since Ryoo Jung-ah resigned last May.

“Now I sail to a new world,” Park said on his Facebook page.

“I was happy to travel around the country, reporting the beauty of Korea for 26 years as a reporter.”

Born in Yeongdong County, North Chungcheong Province, Park majored in law at Yeungnam University.

Park joined the vernacular daily as a reporter in 1990. He has been an “expert reporter” on tourism since 2001.

The Cheong Wa Dae appointment recognized his long dedication to promoting Korea’s tourist attractions. He was the inaugural chairman of the Travel Reporters Association and served as an advisory committee member to the 2012 International Exposition Yeosu.

His book, “Picturesque Sites in Korea” won the 2010 Korea Tourism Awards in the category of printed publications. He also won the Prime Minister’s Award in 2011 for his 10 years of dedication to the promotion of tourism here.