The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) appointed actress and comedian Melai Cantiveros-Francisco as Honorary Ambassador for Korea Family Tourism in the Philippines from May 21, 2024, to May 20, 2025. A special appointment ceremony for her was held last May 21, 2024, in Seoul, Korea. 

She is the first Filipino celebrity appointed by KTO as an Honorary  Ambassador for promoting Korean Family Tourism in the Philippines. As the honorary ambassador for family tourism, Melai will be the celebrity representative for the KTO’s family tourism promotional campaigns, programs, and events in the Philippines. Part of her duties and activities is visiting Korea with her family and sharing her experiences through her social media accounts. 

She will promote Korea’s family tourist attractions at various events arranged by KTO and other Korean government agencies. The celebrity mom is also set to appear in select big campaigns and events of KTO, such as familiarization tours and travel fairs , within one year of her appointment. 

Prior to her appointment as Honorary Ambassador for Korea Family Tourism in the Philippines, Melai engaged in various projects that promoted Korea’s charm to Filipinos. She starred in a 2023 movie, “Ma’am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul,” mainly filmed in Korea’s capital.

She also won the Best Actor award in the 2023 Asia Artist Awards held in the Philippine Arena. Further, Melai and her family are fondly called as the “Kamsamii Family” among their fans. Mr. Hyung Joon Kim, Director of KTO Manila explained that KTO chose Melai to be the Honorary Ambassador specifically for Family Tourism as evidenced by her various projects relative to Korea. KTO hopes that through Melai and her family’s promotional content, there will be more awareness and interest in Korea’s family-friendly  tourist attractions and destinations among Filipino families.

ALSO READ: LOOK: Melai Cantiveros Shared Candid Moments of Family Trip in South Korea

Melai and her family visited Korea this week for a familiarization tour of Seoul and Gyeonggi provinces, which includes family tourist attractions such as theme parks, K-pop dance classes, and wellness experiences. Aside from her husband and two daughters, her mother also joined them on the trip. 

Photo: Melai Cantiveros

Melai rose to prominence in the entertainment industry after winning the reality TV show, “Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up” in 2010. She then had various projects as an actress, comedian, and host. Currently, she is one of the hosts of the popular morning talk show, “Magandang Buhay.”