Incoming Tourism Sciences Society of Korea President Seo Won-seok speaks during his inauguration ceremony at Seoul Global Center, Friday. Courtesy of Tourism Sciences Society of Korea

The Tourism Sciences Society of Korea appointed Kyung Hee University professor Seo Won-seok as its president. Seo is a professor at the university's College of Hotel and Tourism Management.

The society said Monday that Seo will serve as its 28th president, and the appointment aims to strengthen the society's global network.

"I will do my best to facilitate our members' participation in the society while strengthening its overseas networks," Seo said during his appointment ceremony at Seoul Global Center on Friday.

"Tourism not only boosts the nation's economy but also serves as a major pillar for balanced development between regions and cultural diplomacy. It also strengthens the national brand power," he added. "During my presidency, I will develop the society's long-term vision to innovate the country's tourism sector under a partnership with the government."

Seo is expected to serve for two years from March.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also welcomed Seo's appointment.

"The country's tourism is about to enter an inflection point. It could leap over to the next level or be stalled. It all depends on what we are going to do from now on," the ministry's tourism policy bureau head Kim Jeong-hoon said during the ceremony. "We need help from academia. Your experience will definitely be a driving factor to innovate the country's tourism."

Seo earned a bachelor's degree in hotel and tourism management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a master's and doctorate from Pennsylvania State University.

He is also a member of the Ministry of Economy and Finance's task force in developing the country's service sector.

Founded in 1972, the Tourism Sciences Society of Korea is the nation's largest academic body, with 8,000 member scholars and experts in the sector. It holds two academic seminars every year. This year is expected to mark the 100th seminar.

The society publishes the Journal of Tourism Sciences and the International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research every year. Both journals are listed on the Korea Citation Index (KCI).

The KCI is a non-commercial Korean citation index operated by the National Research Foundation of Korea.