Pens and forks: intense business meals at Nat’l Museum, Coex

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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G20 in Seoul

Pens and forks: intense business meals at Nat’l Museum, Coex

Posted : 2010-11-07 19:09

Updated : 2010-11-07 19:09

Night at the museum: The opening reception and first business meal for the G20 Seoul summit will be held Thursday at the National Museum of Korea, Yongsan. Heads of state and leaders will be able to admire local antiquities such as the 10-story stone pagoda of Gyeongcheon Temple, shown in the photo. / Korea Times file

By Lee Hyo-won

Polished silverware, check. Security, double check.

The G20 heads of state and representatives of international organizations will officially gather for the intensive summit in Seoul at 6 p.m., Thursday.

But first a meal.

The opening reception and business dinner will take place at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan.

Other venues such as the Gyeonghoeru at Gyeongbok Palace was previously considered since it once welcomed diplomats during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), but the wooden pavilion was rejected due to potential fire hazards.

The museum was also chosen to allow some degree of exposure to the local folk culture.The venue houses prized antiquities such as the Gilt-Bronze Maitreya Bodhisattva Half-sitting Thinking Statue (National Treasure No. 83) and the 10-story stone pagoda of Gyeongcheon Temple (National Treasure No. 86)

The Seoul G20 Organizing Committee said that relics will be exhibited in a simple, organic way, with minimal artifice so that the leaders can enjoy the venue’s offerings.

“It will be a great chance for the participants, who barely have time to be exposed to the local culture. We also hope to promote the beauty of Korean culture overseas,” said the committee.

The one-hour reception will be broadcast live through networks such as CNN (United States), BBC (United Kingdom) and NHK (Japan).

Now, back to business.

The participants will immediately sit down for business over dinner at 7 p.m.

Discussions will take place over meals during the course of this business-intense event, but the opening dinner will be prepared inside one of the exhibition halls so that guests will be able to admire Korean relics.

The following day, the morning conference will commence at 9 a.m. at the summit’s main venue, Coex Mall in Samseong-dong.
The organizing committee said that experts from five different fields were consulted to ensure a seamless order of events, and also sought help from Hargrove, an American firm that oversaw the two G20 summits held in the United States.

Afterward the VIPs will pause for a group photo and continue with a business luncheon at 12:30 p.m.

Finally, President Lee Myung-bak will announce the results of the summit at 4 p.m.

The event will wrap up with a closing dinner and performance at 6 p.m. CEOs of global industries that took part in the B20 summit will also attend the event.

What’s for dinner?

The key words for the business-intense summit, where participants will have to work over meals, are simplicity and efficiency.
Unlike the 2005 APEC summit in Busan, which featured various cultural sideline events and even an official designated drink for toasts, no alcohol will be served during the opening reception or meals.

“As much as the Thursday dinner and Wednesday lunch are business meals, we will be serving simple Western-style dishes rather than Korean cuisine,” said the organizing committee.

Simple, three-course meals will be served in order to minimize the interruption of conversations.

Either “hanwoo” (domestic beef) or local fish will be served — but tofu will be served for vegetarians such as Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Chefs will also prepare halal meats for Muslim guests.

Fresh sorbet and ice cream as well as seasonal fruit will be served for dessert.

hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr