Ex-vice culture minister appointed to lead Korea Tourism Organization
New Korea Tourism Organization head Kim Jang-sil, right, holds an official letter of appointment and poses with Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo-gyoon in Seoul, Oct. 6. Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
By Lee Hae-rin
Former Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Jang-sil has been appointed as the new head of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, Thursday.
Kim, a graduate of Yeungnam University's department of public administration, also has a master's degree in public administration and policy from Seoul National University and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Hawaii.
Kim has served in various government posts since passing the civil service examination in 1979. From 2008 to 2009, he was the vice culture minister under the Lee Myung-bak administration. He was the head of the Seoul Arts Center from 2009 to 2012.
In 2012, he became a lawmaker of the Saenuri Party, which is the predecessor of the current ruling People Power Party. Kim has served as a special executive officer of culture for then-candidate President Yoon Suk-yeol during the presidential campaign and took part in the presidential preparation committee after Yoon was elected in March.
The post has been vacant since the former KTO President Ahn Young-bae stepped down in May. His three-year term began last Thursday and ends on Oct. 5, 2025.