Lee Charm

Lee Charm (born Lee Han-woo, Korean: 이참; formerly Bernhard Quantz; born February 24, 1954) is a South Korean naturalized citizen and former head of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). He was the first foreign-born individual to hold the position.

Born in Germany, Lee Charm naturalized as a South Korean citizen in 1986. Prior to leading the KTO, he worked as an actor in South Korean films and television dramas, often portraying foreign characters. He is known for his fluency in Korean.

He served as the president and CEO of the Korea Tourism Organization from 2009 to 2013. During his tenure, he focused on attracting international tourists and promoting South Korea as a travel destination. Key initiatives included developing new tourism products and strengthening ties with international tourism partners.

His appointment and subsequent activities as head of the KTO generated significant public attention due to his background as a naturalized citizen and his previous career in entertainment.

In 2013, Lee Charm resigned from his position as president of the KTO following allegations of corruption and abuse of power. He was later indicted on charges of bribery and embezzlement.