South Korea Elevates National Tourism Strategy Council to Presidential Level

President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a briefing by public institutions and related agencies at the Blue House reception hall on the 17th. [Photo=Yonhap]

South Korea will move its top tourism policy body, the National Tourism Strategy Council, from the prime minister’s office to the president’s office, a step aimed at developing tourism as a national strategic industry.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said April 21 that the Cabinet approved revisions to the Tourism Promotion Act reflecting the change.

With the amendment, the council will be formally run under a president-led system, strengthening its standing. Its mandate will also expand beyond drafting tourism promotion plans to include evaluating implementation results and feeding those findings back into policy. The ministry said the goal is to review tourism performance across ministries and reinforce interagency coordination and policy effectiveness.

In February, at the 11th National Tourism Strategy Council meeting, the president attended in person and stressed tourism as a key driver of the national economy and regional development.

As the first follow-up step to the overhaul, the ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization will hold a public contest for tourism policy proposals from April 22 through May 12.

The contest will collect ideas in eight areas centered on measures announced at the 11th council meeting under the theme, “A major shift in inbound tourism, a major leap in regional tourism.” Participants can submit proposals through the event page on the Korea Tourism Organization’s “VisitKorea” website.

After reviews by experts and private-sector committee members, 20 proposals will be selected. One top prize winner will receive 1 million won, two excellence award winners will receive 500,000 won each, and 17 encouragement award winners will receive 100,000 won each. Results will be announced May 26, and selected proposals are to be reflected in tourism policy.

Kang Jeong-won, director general for tourism policy, said the upgrade to a presidential body has strengthened the system’s execution and coordination functions. He urged broad public interest and participation in the contest so the government can identify policies needed in the field.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Kang Sang Heon