[THE KOREA TIMES]'Visit Korea' Campaign Launched in Japan -Bae Yong-joon-

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'Visit Korea' Campaign Launched in Japan

'Visit Korea' campaign: Korean superstar Bae Yong-joon, left, smiles as he talks to Korea Tourism Organazation chief Lee Charm during a ceremony to launch the Visit Korea 2010-2012 campaign at the Tokyo Dome, Wednesday.

/ Courtesy of Visit Korea Committee

By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter

Japan held a launching ceremony for the Visit Korea 2010-2012 campaign at the Tokyo Dome, Wednesday, with more than 40,000 participants that included Lee Charm, president of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Japanese First Lady Miyuki Hatoyama and Korean actor Bae Yong-joon, a superstar in Japan.

“It is extremely meaningful that Japan is joining a tourism campaign to promote Korea to the world,” Hatoyama said in a private meeting with the KTO president ahead of the ceremony.

She expressed a deep interest in the “Korean wave” of culture and entertainment in Japan and other parts of Asia. The Japanese first couple will visit Korea on Oct. 9 at the invitation of President Lee Myung-bak.

The ceremony included a talk show with the KTO chief and Bae, a congratulatory address by Ambassador Kwon Chul-hyun to Japan and a video presentation of Korea’s tourist attractions.

“Korea is planning a host of new projects to attract foreign tourists to Korea during the years 2010-2012,” Lee said.

As a goodwill ambassador of the campaign, Bae said that he was interested in raising the global status of Korean food.

Korea has set up a special committee to prepare for the campaign to attract 10 million foreign tourists to Korea over the next three years. Lee serves as its vice chairman.

The committee is led by Lotte Group’s Vice Chairman Shin Dong-bin. The domestic launching ceremony for the campaign is scheduled for Nov. 11.

It is the third time for Korea to initiate such a campaign. The last was held in 2001-2002 when Korea co-hosted the World Cup finals.

The campaign, first announced last year, is also promoted by goodwill ambassador Kim Yu-na, the 2009 world champion in ladies figure skating.

jhdo@koreatimes.co.kr

[style]

pola님,관광공사 사장님과의 컷 화기애애합니다.귀한 자료 감사합니다^^*