Naturalized Korean Lee Cham to be named tourism head

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Media personality Lee Cham was to be named chief of
the Korea National Tourism Organization Wednesday, culture officials said, the
first naturalized Korean to take a top post in the South Korean government.

Lee, 55, is the first German male ever to become a naturalized Korean citizen,
and his appointment is anticipated to pave the way for foreign residents and
naturalized citizens in Korea to assume government positions, a pledge by
President Lee Myung-bak during the 2007 presidential election.
The culture ministry was to officially announce Lee's appointment later Wednesday.
Having come to Korea in 1978 as Bernhard Quandt, the catalyst for Lee's move was
a post with a European cultural foundation, where he helped with international
academic seminars on ecumenical issues. Over time, Lee has played many different
roles in Korean society, including a German teacher, English teacher, consultant,
actor and broadcaster.
One of only a few dozen Caucasian citizens of the country when he became a
citizen in 1986, Lee has since become a prominent figure in the Korean media and
political scene, also working for President Lee's campaign team during the 2007
elections.
Lee currently hosts an English-language news program on radio station TBS and a
Korean culture and food show on KTV, the government policy promotion channel.
While Lee was only the 325th individual to become a naturalized Korean citizen,
the number has since grown to approximately 100,000 individuals to date, a sign
Korea is moving towards greater internationalism.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)