By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) President and CEO Oh Jee-chul has stepped down from his post, according to the Tourism Ministry and KTO Wednesday.
A ministry official said that Oh tendered his resignation after coming back from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) meeting earlier this month. ``The government accepted the resignation,'' he said.
Oh made a bid for the UNWTO secretary general post, but was defeated in the election held in Mali on May 7 ― he obtained 10 votes among 31 executive council members, while his rival, Taleb Rifai of Jordan who is the current deputy secretary general, gained 20.
His term was set to end in November 2010. Following public consultation and a recommendation from the tourism minister, the president will appoint Oh's replacement.
After starting his public career in 1977 at the Korea Sports Council, the 60-year-old moved on to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, where he held the vice minister position from 2003 to 2004. He was chairman of the Korean Cable Television Association in 2006, and was inaugurated as KTO head in 2007.