Korea Tourism Organization
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2010) |
| 한국관광공사 | |
 | |
| Formation | 1962 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Statutory organization |
| Affiliations | Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism |
| Website | kto |
| Korea Tourism Organization | |
| Hangul | 한국관광공사 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 韓國觀光公社 |
| Revised Romanization | Hanguk Gwangwang Gongsa |
| McCune–Reischauer | Han'guk Kwan'gwang Kongsa |
The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO; Korean: 한국관광공사) is an organization of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It is commissioned to promote the country's tourism industry.
The KTO was established in 1962 as a government-invested corporation responsible for the South Korean tourism industry according to the International Tourism Corporation Act.[1] The organization promotes Korea as a tourist destination to attract foreign tourists. Starting in the 1980s, domestic tourism promotion also became a function of the KTO.
Inbound visitors totaled over 6 million in 2006[2] and the tourism industry is said to be one of the factors that has some influence on the Korean economy.[3]
History
[edit]- 1961: The Tourism Promotion Law is enacted.
- 1962: The International Tourism Corporation (ITC) is established to promote South Korea’s tourism industry through the management of major hotels, taxis and the Korea Travel Bureau, as well as by training human resources to support the travel trade.
- 1968: The number of foreign visitors passes 100,000.
- 1969: The Hotel Institute is opened. The first overseas office opens in Tokyo.
- 1971: Development of Bomun Lake Resort in Gyeongju begins.
- 1977: London office opens in the UK.
- 1978: Korea attracts over one million foreign visitors.
- 1982: The International Tourism Corporation is renamed the Korea National Tourism Corporation (KNTC).
- 1988: The number of foreign visitors surpasses two million.
- 1991: The number of foreign visitors passes three million.
- 1996: The company's name is changed from Korea National Tourism Corporation to Korea National Tourism Organization.
- 1998: Kumgangsan Diamond Mountains tour begins.
- 2000: Korea attracts five million foreign visitors.
- 2003: Kumgangsan Diamond Mountains land route tour begins. Hallyu (Korea Wave) becomes the major theme of the KTO's overseas marketing. United States branch offices issue newsletter bulletins;[4] offices are in Los Angeles and New York City.[5]
- 2005: KTO reshuffles its organizational structure into six divisions. KTO introduces its new corporate identity. Korea attracts 6.5 million visitors from abroad.
- 2023:HiKR Ground tourism center opens in Seoul.[6]
Leadership
[edit]| Generation | Name (Hangeul / Hanja) | Term of Office |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Shin Du-yeong (신두영 / 申斗泳) | April 30, 1962 – April 14, 1963 |
| 2nd | Lee Won-woo (이원우 / 李元雨) | April 15, 1963 – January 17, 1964 |
| 3rd | Oh Jae-kyung (오재경 / 吳在璟) | January 28, 1964 – June 11, 1965 |
| 4th | Kim Il-hwan (김일환 / 金一煥) | June 12, 1965 – March 23, 1970 |
| 5th | Jang Seong-hwan (장성환 / 張盛煥) | March 24, 1970 – January 28, 1971 |
| 6th | Ahn Dong-jun (안동준 / 安東濬) | June 17, 1971 – July 25, 1972 |
| 7th | Lee Han-rim (이한림 / 李翰林) | July 26, 1972 – January 28, 1974 |
| 8th | Kim Jwa-gyeom (김좌겸 / 金佐謙) | March 13, 1974 – March 12, 1980 |
| 9th | Hwang In-seong (황인성 / 黃寅性) | March 13, 1980 – December 2, 1980 |
| 10th | Ha Dae-don (하대돈 / 河大敦) | June 1, 1981 – October 15, 1986 |
| 11th | Lee Gye-ik (이계익 / 李啓謚) | April 2, 1986 – March 16, 1989 |
| 12th | Jo Young-gil (조영길 / 趙英吉) | March 17, 1989 – April 1, 1993 |
| 13th | Ji Yeon-tae (지연태) | April 2, 1993 – January 7, 1995 |
| 14th | Kim Tae-yeon (김태연 / 金泰淵) | January 9, 1995 – December 27, 1996 |
| 15th | Lee Gyeong-mun (이경문 / 李庚文) | December 28, 1996 – March 25, 1998 |
| 16th | Hong Du-pyo (홍두표 / 洪斗杓) | April 10, 1998 – June 3, 1999 |
| 17th | Lee Deok-ryeol (이득렬 / 李得洌) | June 26, 1999 – May 16, 2000 |
| 18th | Jo Hong-gyu (조홍규 / 趙洪奎) | June 1, 2000 – May 31, 2003 |
| 19th | Yu Geon (유건 / 柳健) | June 18, 2003 – January 14, 2005 |
| 20th | Kim Jong-min (김종민 / 金鍾民) | March 29, 2005 – May 8, 2007 |
| 21st | Oh Ji-cheol (오지철 / 吳志哲) | November 2, 2007 – May 30, 2009 |
| 22nd | Lee Cham (이참 / 李參) | July 30, 2009 – November 15, 2013 |
| 23rd | Byeon Chu-seok (변추석 / 卞秋錫) | April 4, 2014 – April 6, 2015 |
| 24th | Jeong Chang-su (정창수 / 鄭昌洙) | August 11, 2015 – January 19, 2018 |
| Acting | Kang Ok-hee (강옥희) | January 20, 2018 – May 16, 2018 |
| 25th | An Young-bae (안영배 / 安榮培) | May 17, 2018 – May 26, 2022 |
| Acting | Shin Sang-yong (신상용) | May 27, 2022 – October 7, 2022 |
| 26th | Kim Jang-sil (김장실 / 金長實) | October 7, 2022 – January 12, 2024 |
| Acting | Seo Young-chung (서영충) | January 12, 2024 – Present |
See also
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References
[edit]- ^ "The Foundation of Korea Tourism Organization". National Archives of Korea. 2006-12-01. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16.
- ^ Gupta, Satish (2007-01-30). "Korea targets 10 million inbound visitors by 2010". eTN Asia. Archived from the original on 2007-06-28.
- ^ Oh, Jee-chul (2009-03-03). "Tourism to Power Korea's Economy". The Korea Times.
- ^ "USA What's Happening". Korea Tourism Organization. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
- ^ "About USA Branch Offices". Korea Tourism Organization. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
- ^ "We went inside HiKr Ground in Seoul and here's what we discovered". Manila Bulletin.
- ^ "한국관광공사: 역대 CEO". knto.or.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-09-30.
External links
[edit]- VisitKorea (KTO) homepage (in English)
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
