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| An undated handout photo of Capella hotel on Sentosa island, Singapore / Capella Singapore via Reuters |
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| / Reuters |
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| / AP |
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| / AP |
By Kim Jae-kyoung
SINGAPORE ― The historic summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to stir up a media frenzy here.
The meeting is scheduled to be held at the Capella Hotel on the resort island of Sentosa on June 12.
In the lead-up to the summit, a significant number of journalists from all over the world, including South Korea, are coming to the city-state.
"It has been hectic nowadays because of a flurry of media inquiries about the Trump-Kim summit," said an official from the South Korean embassy in Singapore.
"We've got so many calls and request from media everyday and I think that things are likely to further heat up as the summit nears," he added.
Major hotels, considered likely venues for the summit and accommodations, are also receiving a growing number of media inquiries and requests.
"I am getting a lot of requests from Japan and Korea," said an executive from one of the five-star hotels in Singapore.
"We are asked every day whether delegations from the U.S. and North Korea will stay at our hotel," she added.
The Straits Times reported Tuesday that more than 3,000 journalists are expected to arrive in the city-state to cover the June 12 summit. Around 3,000 journalists flocked to Seoul for the inter-Korean summit on April 27.
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According to Singapore's leading English daily, NHK, Japan's national public broadcaster, is expected to send about 100 people, including correspondents from around the world, while the BBC is said to be sending about 80 journalists.
It also reported that the White House press corps is said to be operating its own media center for journalists who travel with the president. It said that the White House press corps usually numbers between 50 and 100 for overseas trips.
Most Korean newspapers and broadcasters, including Chosun Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, KBS and MBC, are sending a team of journalists to cover the summit. They include those from the Blue House and Foreign Ministry.
According to a Singapore-based Korean travel operator, KBS and MBC called to ask room rates for reserving more than 100 rooms each right after Trump first announced the summit in May.
It is widely expected that hordes of foreign journalists will be staking out at the summit venue and major hotels designated as special event areas ahead of the historic event next week.
The Singapore government has designated the areas surrounding Sentosa and Shangri-La Hotel as special event zones from June 10 to 14 for the summit.
On Wednesday, following the announcement of the venue, the Singapore government declared the Trump-Kim summit an "Enhanced Security Special Event," under which it will enforce strict security measures at the venues and surrounding areas through spot checks and inspections.
On concerns over excessive new coverage competition, the Singapore government has advised journalists to respect media guidelines.
"In relation to the upcoming summit, there has been an increase in the number of journalists and cameramen on the premises and in the vicinities of some hotels and airports," said SG Press Center, a body in charge of the Singaporean government's public relations.
"We would like to remind the media to respect the privacy and needs of other hotel guests, airport users and travelers, and to refrain from any action that may cause distress and inconvenience to others," it added.
In the meantime, the international media center will be set up at F1 Pit Building on 1 Republic Boulevard from June 10 to 13.
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