Ambassador DHO Young-shim is a well known and influential figure holding prominent positions in tourism and sport at the international and national levels. She serves as Special Advisor on Tourism and Sports to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and is Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the UNWTO ST-EP Foundation, which is headquartered in Seoul. She is also a special advisor to the Korean Olympic Committee and a leading member of several national organizations, including the Korea National Tourism Organization, the Korea Culture and Tourism Policy Institute, the Korea International Broadcasting Foundation (Arirang TV), and the Korea Choral Institute.

Madam DHO is passionate about the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and devotes her time and energy to eliminate poverty throughout the world.  Fluent in Korean, English and French, she enjoys engaging with people of different cultural backgrounds and delivering hope by helping the underprivileged, especially women and children. Currently, as Chairperson of the UNWTO ST-EP Foundation she promotes and uses the poverty fighting potential of tourism and sports in the world’s least developed countries. Another avenue through which she is able to bring important social issues to the public’s attention is by hosting the television programme Arirang Cafe Special on which various topics are discussed.

Madam DHO has held distinguished positions within the ROK National Assembly. She was Chief of Staff of the Foreign Affairs Committee (1985-1988), a Member of the National Assembly (1988-1992), and Vice Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee (1988-1992). She also served as a member of the Korean Delegation to the Inter-parliamentary Union (1982-1992) and was Chairperson of the Organizing Committee for Visit Korea Year 2001-2002.

After completing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin, as well as a Certificate in French Civilization and Language from Sorbonne University, she completed a Master of Arts in Public Administration at the University of Oklahoma.

She has also published books entitled “Inside Washington” (1987) and “Changing our Ways” (1992).