"The race for luring the Chinese tourists is getting more and more competitive, " said Han Hwa-joon, head of the Korean Tourism Organization's China team.

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Mr. Han, of Elmhurst, Queens, was in Manhattan to renew his Korean passport on Monday, police said.

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Kim Han-sol's sense of fashion has provoked considerable interest in the South Korean media, with Facebook photos showing him wearing rimmed glasses, earrings and a pendant in the shape of a cross.

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Mr. Kelly said Mr. Han, 58 years old of Elmhurst, Queens, was in Midtown to renew his Korean passport.

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