Byun Choo-suk, a design professor at Kookmin University, has been tapped as the new president of the Korea Tourism Organization, according to officials on Thursday.

He will succeed German-born Lee Charm, who resigned as head of the organization amid a sex scandal in November last year.

Byun is known as an advertisement and design expert. He has served as a director of LG Ad and as former dean of Kookmin University College of Design. He was a member of the presidential campaign team for Park Geun-hye. After she won the presidential election, he worked as head of the public information team for the president-elect.

He is to be appointed by President Park before taking office.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)