By Bae Ji-sook

The G20 Seoul Summit is more than a meeting of politicians and financiers. The organizers of the global event are striving to use this as an opportunity to promote the best cultural aspects of Korea to the delegation and media crew from around the world.

On the first floor of Coex in southern Seoul, where the G20 summit hall and the media center are located, every bit of the place is covered with the “beauty of Korea” to try and spark people’s curiosity in the far Eastern country.

Impress journalists

At the media center where more than 1,200 foreign journalists are expected to write and broadcast about the summit and its host country Korea, a large electronic display board constantly playing promotional videos of Korea was installed. From ancient kingdoms to state-of-the-art information technology, the video, “Enduring Voices of Korea,” portrays history, culture and other various aspects of Korea.

At the cafeteria inside the center, creations of some of Korea’s most famous authors were displayed. Novels by Hwang Suk-young, Kim Young-ha and poems of Kim Sun-woo as well as several pieces of classic literature were translated into English, French, Japanese Chinese and Spanish. English-language newspapers including The Korea Times and Financial Times were displayed to deliver daily news and pocket-sized brochures about Korean society drew the attention of the foreign press.

Outside of the media center stands a pile of LED plates in the shape of Cheomseongdae, an observatory from the Shilla Dynasty (BC57-AD935), boasting the ancient technology and construction skills of Korea. Organizers said the installation intends to appeal to the harmonization of the old and the new, the East and the West.

Experience opportunity

At the far right corner of the convention hall, exhibitions on Korean tourism, 3D TVs and hanbok, traditional Korean outfits, were held.

Targeting the journalists and delegation, the 3D TV center was filled with three-dimensional televisions of domestic manufacturers. Special 3D glasses were provided to watch sports and programs on the nature of Korea, which could maximize the effect of 3D technology.

At the “Experience Korea” booth organized by the Korea Tourism Organization, wide screens repeatedly showed scenery from around the country. Bulguk Temple and Hahoe Village in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Yangdong Village in Gyeongju, Haein Temple on Jeju Island and Seoul’s Changdeok Palace were presented on a 3D screen giving people a lively impression of the beauty of Korea, the organizers said. The guests could move on to the hanbok section to dress themselves in the colorful outfits and hats, and take pictures.

Probably the most popular section was the “Avatar Center” where people took pictures of themselves and transformed them into their own avatars using special computer software. People queued up to see their “alternative self.”

Then there was a section for the palette: a small cafe was offering free “tteok,” or steamed rice cake. Volunteers would cheerfully recommend and give handfuls of finger food to the visitors. “Are you a journalist? Come and taste tteok! Come and see Korea,” they’d say.