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By Cho Jin-seo
The G20 International Media Center (IMC) opens today at the Coex, the main venue of the G20 Seoul Summit, as a “home away from home” for some 4,288 reporters and media staff from 63 countries.
During the Nov. 10-11 business summit, the precursor to the main summit, a separate media center will be run at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel.
For the main summit, which will be held on Nov. 11-12, the number of accredited reporters gathering in Seoul will be the largest since the 2002 World Cup football finals.
More than 1,600 foreign press members are registered to cover the world’s premier economic forum.
The opening ceremony will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday. Sakong Il, the chairman of the G20 preparation committee, and Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will preside.
The IMC has 1,330 seats with high-speed internet connections and power outlets. There is a massive dining hall where some 1,000 people can eat at once, as well as bars and alternative resting areas.
The organizer is going to provide lunch and dinner on both days free of charge. Snacks and beverages will also be available for free until midnight.
“Everything is all set for the press. You will be surprised to see the size of the hall,” an official at the Seoul G20 committee said.
Before the main summit, a series of press conferences by Korean officials will be held at the IMC from today. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will meet the press today at 5 p.m., and Minister Yoo tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.
On Thursday, Chin Dong-soo, the chairman of the Financial Supervisory Commission, and Kim Choong-soo, the governor of the Bank of Korea, will visit the IMC for press briefings on issues about global financial regulatory reform and the global economic outlook.
Registered journalists need to visit the KEPCO building across the street from the press center to pick up an identification badge. As Samsung subway station will be closed during both days of the summit, they will either have to walk from nearby Seonleung station, which will take 15 minutes, or take a shuttle bus from there.
There will be shuttle buses between the IMC and the Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel, where the Business Summit is going to be held from Wednesday to Thursday.
As for leisure, foreign journalists can take advantage of the city tours on offer. The shortest one will take around two hours to visit a few historic sites and shopping streets near the press center.
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