 Policemen patrol near Coex, the venue for the G20 Seoul Summit in Seoul, Thursday. / Korea Times |
The barricades were firm and the security was tight at the Coex in southern Seoul, the main venue for the G20 Seoul Summit, Thursday.
Ordinary citizen’s access was restricted, which left Asia’s largest underground shopping mall empty and sounding hollow.
At the entrance to the first floor, where the media center as well as convention halls are located, a facial recognition system was installed. Every time people entered the main building, the machine checked whether their faces matched their photographs that had been registered previously.
The G20 Security Taskforce boasted that the system could even screen out the faces of people who have undergone plastic surgery.
The first floor, where the media center is located, was lively. According to the preparation committee, more than 1,200 journalists from overseas signed up to cover the summit and reporters as well as TV directors and producers were busy listening to occasional press briefings held by the organizers, writing down material, making phone calls and shooting footage. The reporters talked to each other to share information.
Free beverages were provided at a cafeteria where light snacks and Jinseng related foods were available. A vending machine operated with touch screen system was installed outside the center where information about the products was shown in English. The drinks were free of charge. A catering team from the Westin Chosun Hotel was on site to prepare lunch and dinner.
But the atmosphere was different on the underground floor, where the Coex Mall is located. The Presidential Committee for the G20 Summit asked store owners to shut down their workplaces but later withdrew the request. Still, due to the strict restrictions and thorough security checks conducted several times a day, most of the vendors decided to close their shops on Thursday and Friday.
On Thursday, a handful of people strolled through the 119,008 square-meter-complex. Though citizens’ access to the ground floor was partially allowed, not many seemed to have bothered to visit. Security officers including those from the Presidential Security Service and the police were everywhere.
Though the government has vowed to prosecute anyone attempting a rally, a man held a one-man-protest in front of the conventional hall entrance holding up a sign criticizing President Lee Myung-bak’s Four River Refurbishment Project. He was apprehended later by the police but news reporters throughout the world covered his voice.
A police officer later shouted at his subordinates. “Remember: Things do happen. There are no ‘ifs. If it happens, that’s going to be a big program!”
Vendors were not happy. “The preparation committee said they would get delegations, security teams and others to come, eat and shop to compensate for our losses: if we close the shop for two days, we lose millions of won,” a disgruntled clerk at a stationary store said. “However, I didn’t see anyone visiting,” she added.
To confectionary or convenience stores in particular, the event was unwelcoming. Nov. 11 is widely celebrated as “Ppeppero Day” sharing stick type chocolate biscuits shaped after the 11/11 date line among youngsters. Sales of such confectionaries soar by 20 percent in general.
However, this year, due to media reports that entrance to Coex would not be allowed, the fancily decorated shops were left unvisited. “I know you shouldn’t whine about this great national event but it is disappointing. Please come and buy!” said a part-timer at a convenience store.
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