for EU summit (SERI)

Goal and accomplishments at past G-20 Summits - JungAng daily- 11.12.2010

Goals and accomplishments at past G-20 Summits:Washington D.C.

November 12, 2010

* Date: Saturday, Nov. 14-15, 2008

* Participants:

-G-20 members: G-8 + Korea, China, India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, EU (Spain, Netherlands)

-International Organizations: UN, IMF, World Bank, Financial Stability Forum

The leaders from the G-20 countries, which represents 85 percent of the world’s economic output, met in Washington to mark the first-ever G-20 Summit. The group was to discuss the root causes of the global financial crisis and to review actions taken afterward. Among other agenda items were a commitment to fend off protectionism and reform financial regulations.

It was the first time that the G-8 nations and 12 other countries came together for a common goal. The meeting began with a realization that global collaboration was needed to overcome the crisis and that the G-8 was insufficient to solve the problems.

It was perhaps the biggest gathering of presidents and prime ministers in almost a decade.

The summit’s outcome included strengthening policy cooperation among the G-20 nations in areas such as monetary policy to stimulate the real economy; reforming financial markets by strengthening transparency and accountability; and reforming international financial institutions.

The nations agreed that they would work to increase IMF resources and facilitate early-warning exercises to improve the fund’s ability to respond effectively to financial crises.

They also decided to enhance the status of emerging and developing countries in international organizations, such as the IMF and World Bank and other multilateral financial institutions, to reflect the changing economic weight of emerging countries.

They agreed to pursue more spending on green growth and other areas of sustainable development.

Goals and accomplishments at past G-20 Summits:London

November 12, 2010

* Date: Thursday, April 2, 2009 * Participants:

-G-20 members: G-8 + Korea, China, India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, EU (Czech Republic)

-Invited: Spain, Netherlands -International Organizations: Asean, Nepad, WTO, UN, IMF, World Bank, Financial Stability Forum

The London summit was held at a time when the global economy was experiencing its worst crisis since World War II. Building on the results of the Washington summit, the leaders aimed to again discuss ways to take collective action toward economic recovery and job creation.

Among the major agenda items were to take efforts to restore economic growth and employment recovery and to inject an economic stimulus of $5 trillion by the end of 2010; to pursue reform and reinforcement of financial supervision and regulations to prevent another “too-big-to-fail” problem; and to avoid protectionism and promote international trade and investment.

At the end of the summit, the leaders sent out a communique that was divided into three main topics: strengthening the financial system, establishing funding through international financial institutions, and reporting on the implementation of action plans.

They decided to pursue coordinated expansionary fiscal policy for economic and employment growth. The role of the IMF was expanded to include surveillance and early warnings. The countries agreed to seek regulatory reform and to dispose of nonperforming assets to eliminate future uncertainties. The Financial Stability Forum (FSF) was re-established as the Financial Stability Board (FSB).

They also decided to adopt practical measures to avoid protectionism and to give out $1.1 trillion for emerging and developing economies to help them recover from the global financial crisis.

Goals and accomplishments at past G-20 Summits:Pittsburgh

November 12, 2010

* Date: Thursday, Sept. 24-25, 2009 * Participants:

-G-20 members: G-8 + Korea, China, India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, EU (Sweden)

-Invited: Spain, Netherlands

-International Organizations: Asean, Nepad, WTO, UN, IMF, World Bank, Financial Stability Forum

At the Pittsburgh G-20 Summit, leaders reviewed the progress made since the Washington and London.

The Pittsburgh summit produced a victory for emerging economies with an agreement to turn the G-20 Summit into an annual event and a major arena for discussing the global economy, thereby replacing the G-8 format.

Among the agenda items were pursuing exit strategies with international collaboration once economic recovery is certain, consent on the foundation of a collaborative system for strong, sustainable and balanced growth, and reform of international financial regulations.

During the summit, the United States and Europe narrowed differences on issues including limiting salaries for bankers, which Europeans pushed strongly for. The U.S. initially wanted to deal with the issue by backing higher capital requirements rather than limiting salaries.

One of the outcomes of the summit was to meet in Canada in June 2010, Korea in November 2010 and France in 2011.

The members also agreed to meet annually starting in 2011.

One of the major achievements at the summit was reform of international financial institutions. G-20 members committed to shifting at least 3 percent of voting power from developed to developing countries.

G-20 members agreed to reform compensation practices at financial firms and in over-the-counter derivatives markets.

Goals and accomplishments at past G-20 Summits:Toronto

November 12, 2010

* Date: Saturday, June 26-27, 2010 * Participants:

-G-20 members: G-8 + Korea, China, India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, EU (Belgium)

-Invited: Spain, Netherlands, Nigeria

-International Organizations: African Union, Asean, Nepad, WTO, UN, IMF, World Bank, Financial Stability Board, International Labour Organization, OECD

At the Toronto summit, Korea contributed greatly to elevating the creation of global financial safety nets as a major agenda item for further discussion, especially at the Seoul summit. The IMF decided to increase the duration and credit available under the existing Flexible Credit Line for member countries with strong economic fundamentals and policies. It also created the Precautionary Credit Line for members with sound economic policies but that don’t meet the FCL’s more stringent requirements.

Among the major agenda items were advanced economies pursuing fiscal consolidation to reduce debt, upgrading regulations on bank capital and liquidity, and reforming IMF quotas.

The G-20 members promised to halve their deficits by 2013 and stabilize or reduce government debt-to-GDP ratios by 2016. They also decided to safeguard and strengthen the recovery, lay the foundation for strong, sustainable and balanced growth and strengthen financial systems against risks. But they failed to reach a consensus on creating a bank levy, leaving the issue to be decided by each country.

They agreed to address global economic imbalance, which could be the biggest agenda item in Seoul. They also agreed that advanced deficit economies should take action to boost national savings while advanced surplus economies should focus on structural reforms that support increased domestic demand. It was also the first time the issue of exchange rates was mentioned.

g20 summit-regular gathering

(G20) summit-regular gathering

(G20) Seoul summit to help solidify G-20 as regular gathering

SEOUL, Nov. 11 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul summit of the Group of 20 major economies is expected to establish the G-20 as a regular gathering of leaders to handle key global economic issues and set rules for sustainable growth, government sources said Thursday.

The local summit preparation committee and the finance ministry said there is a good chance that G-20 leaders will announce a move to hold a summit meeting on a regular basis like the G-7 meeting of advanced industrialized economic, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Asia-Europe Meeting.

"The G-20 has already established itself as a 'premier forum' for economic issues, and since host countries for the 2011 and 2012 summits have been set, there is wide support for the meeting to be held regularly in the future," a government official said.

Originally, the G-20 was a gathering of finance ministers but gained prominence when leaders met in Washington in November 2008 to tackle the global financial crisis triggered by the collapse of U.S. investment giant Lehman Brothers earlier in the year.

Leaders from the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies and international organizations such as the United Nations have since met in London, Pittsburgh and Toronto, during which the G-20 has proven its worth by handling both crisis situations and helping to lay the foundation for how the global economy should grow in the future.

"The summit has shown it can solve critical problems not only in times of crisis, but in a post-crisis environment as shown by the agreement reached during the Gyeongju finance ministers meeting last month when members moved to prevent the currency issue from getting out of hand," he said.

To turn the G-20 summit into a regular gathering, efforts are underway to create a permanent secretariat. At present, the G-20 does not have a permanent secretariat, and host countries take turns coordinating the summit and various agenda items.

Initially, there were calls to operate an "online secretariat" that may be built up into a more permanent body in the future.

In addition to the G-20 summit, officials here said that efforts are underway to institutionalize the G-20 Business Summit so that it can be held alongside the meeting of global leaders.

France has already said it wants to hold a gathering of entrepreneurs similar to meetings held in Seoul. Businessmen can coordinate their agendas with government officials to tackle issues facing the global economy, they said.

yonngong@yna.co.kr

(END)

<저작권자(c)연합뉴스. 무단전재-재배포금지.>

Briefing by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon

Briefing by

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism 

Yu In-chon

1. Korea’s Bid to Host International Sporting Events 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games 2022 FIFA World Cup  2. Revitalization of International Exchanges  and Cooperation in Culture, Tourism and Sports

November 10, 2010

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Korea’s Bid to Host International Sporting Events

2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games

Background

The Republic of Korea has been trying to host the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang with a view to spreading winter sports across Asia. PyeongChang has been selected as one of the candidate cities for 2018 Winter Olympics along with Munich in Germany and Annecy in France. It was also chosen consecutively as a candidate city for the 2010 and 2014 Games.

If PyeongChang’s bid turns out to be successful, it would be the second Olympic Winter Games to be held in Asia in 20 years; the Nagano Games were in 1998. Out of 21 Winter Olympics in history, only two Games were held in Asia. It is expected that the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games would contribute to further spreading the spirit of the Olympic Movement in Asia where winter sports are not commonplace and present a new opportunity for expanding their growth potential.

PyeongChang, a Fully Prepared Venue

PyeongChang is set to emerge as a hub of winter sports in Asia. Every year, some 1.5 million foreign tourists visit PyeongChang to enjoy winter sports, and it is expected to become a magnet for travelers from nearby countries, whose sports population reaches more than 1 billion. About 91 percent of Koreans support the hosting of the Winter Olympics, and the Korean Government has reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the guarantees it has made to the IOC. Korea’s past track record of having successfully held international and domestic sporting events scores of times, including the 1988 Seoul Olympics, will be conducive to the success of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

PyeongChang is equipped with world-class facilities and infrastructure for the Winter Games. Alpensia Resort, a large-scale Olympic complex, had its grand opening in July 2010 after construction work with a total investment of US$140 million. Of the 13 cutting-edge facilities planned for the competitions, seven of them, including a ski jump tower and the biathlon and cross-country skiing courses, have been completed along with a media village and a hotel to house the IOC head quarters. An efficient Games plan has also been put in place. All competition venues in the Alpensia Cluster and the Coastal Cluster can be reached within 30 minutes from PyeongChang. All venues for the competitions will be accessible within 5 to 10 minutes from the Olympic Villages by expressway, national highway or railroad.

In addition, Korea has made continuous efforts to contribute to the development of winter sports. For instance, the Dream Program, which began in 2004 as part of the pledge made to the IOC, has brought together 806 young people from around 42 countries that do not have snow at any time of the year. Among them, 12 young athletes competed in international sporting events, including the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. This kind of endeavor has gone a long way toward spreading the spirit espoused by the IOC.

Korea’s Bid to Host the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Background

The Republic of Korea has submitted a bid to host the 2022 World Cup aimed at realizing the common benefits of humanity pursued by FIFA and further spreading an enthusiastic passion for football in Asia, which accounts for nearly two thirds of the global population. On May 14, 2010, the Korean Government tendered a Bid Book to FIFA, and subsequently FIFA sent a survey delegation to Korea July 22-25, 2010 to study the competition venues and facilities. If Korea, the host of the G20 Seoul Summit, succeeds in its bid, it will become a beacon of new hope for many underdeveloped countries. 

Benefits of Korea’s Hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup

The principles of coexistence and prosperity of all peoples and the lasting social legacy FIFA is emphasizing is in perfect harmony with Korea’s three legacies.

Korea’s Three Legacies

Legacy of Inspiration: Korea has been an inspiration to other countries by achieving economic advancement and democratization rising above poverty, war and national division. Legacy of Peace: The World Cup in Korea would contribute to promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula, the only remaining country divided by Cold War rivalries, and in Northeast Asia and beyond. Legacy of Passion: The passion of Koreans for football evidenced during the 2002 World Cup, which Korea cohosted, evolved into the FIFA Fan Fest around the world.

Korea has built the best football infrastructure coupled with an advanced IT environment, which attest to the country’s capabilities to host the largest international football event. 

For the 2022 World Cup, 12 candidate cities across the country have already been operating 14 state-of-the-art stadiums. On top of that, Korea’s capabilities to host the event have been objectively acknowledged through its experience and know-how in successfully cohosting the 2002 World Cup and hosting other international sporting events, its rapid and safe transportation networks and the state of reliable public security. 

Korea has shown a strong commitment to the progress of football across the globe through a variety of efforts, including the raising of a global football development fund. If Korea succeeds in its bid to host the 2022 World Cup, it will strive to set up a development fund worth US$77.7 billion from 2011 to 2025 to provide assistance for developing nations that lack a quality football environment and infrastructure.  

Revitalization of International Exchanges and Collaboration in Culture, Sports and Tourism 

Overview 

Korea will enhance efforts to help peoples across the globe better understand Korean culture and engage in cultural exchanges and cooperation in line with principles of cultural relativity and diversity. By assisting developing nations, which are partners in shared progress, to conserve and utilize cultural assets, Korea will help maintain their cultural identity and generate economic value added.

At a time when more than 10 million foreign tourists are expected to visit Korea annually, the domestic tourism industry is making contributions to mutual, sustainable growth by holding the T20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting and carrying out various projects with the WTO. 

International sports interaction is being vitalized in the course of holding friendly matches, assisting developing nations to participate in global events and expanding agreements for exchanges. 

Current State 

Culture

An increased number of Korean cultural centers, hubs for cultural exchanges, was set up across the globe, thereby establishing networks with numerous countries. In 2009, the number of the centers stood at 12 in nine countries; it soared to 20 in 16 nations in 2010 and will increase to 23 in 19 countries in 2011. 

Current State of Hallyu

In the initial stages, the enthusiasm for Hallyu, the Korean Wave of popular culture, including TV broadcasts, music, films and games, mainly spread to East Asian nations. Recently, the phenomenon has started to be felt in North America, the Middle East and Central Asia. Korean digital game businesses are leading the world, boasting the second largest market share.  The dissemination of the Korean Wave has a significant ripple effect, which in monetary terms amounted to 4.9 trillion won or US$4.3 billion as of 2008. For instance, the export of content has gradually increased from US$1.2 billion in 2005 and US$1.5 billion in 2007 to US$1.9 billion in 2008. On top of this, the number of tourists who visited Korea increased to 7.81 million in 2009 from 5.81 million in 2004. As a result, more and more people have come to have favorable views about Korea.

Korea has made efforts to bolster international cooperation through official development assistance projects in culture. As part of such efforts, Korea has run invitational training programs for those involved in the cultural sector in developing nations. From 2005 to 2009, with a budget of 10 billion won or US$8.9 million, it invited a total of 500 people from 37 countries in Asia, South America and Africa. In 2010, with a budget of 1.5 billion won or US$1.3 million, it invited a total of 74 people from 35 nations. 

Under the project dubbed “Thank You, Small Library,” Korea has assisted developing nations to set up libraries. From 2007 to 2010, a total of 17 libraries was founded in Ghana and Mozambique. In 2011, Korea plans to build ten additional libraries on the African continent.

Korea has provided Funds-in-Trust to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It donated US$300,000 to UNESCO in 2007 and US$250,000 in 2009. Every year since 2006, Korea has provided WIPO with about US$214,000.

From 2007 to 2009, Korea provided Vietnam and Mongolia with about 300 million won or about US$268,000 for the management and preservation of cultural assets and historic sites. It also carried out joint academic research projects. 

The 2^nd UNESCO World Conference on Arts Education

The Conference was held in the Convention and Exhibition Complex (COEX) in Seoul May 25-28 this year. The number of participants from 107 countries reached about 3,000, including the UNESCO Director-General, minister and vice minister-level officials from 17 nations and professionals in the arts and culture.  The main outcome of the Conference was the adoption of the Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education. Among other things, the goals were mainly to “ensure that arts education is accessible as a fundamental and sustainable component of a high quality renewal of education,…assure that arts education activities and programmes are of a high quality in conception and delivery” and “apply arts education principles and practices to contribute to resolving the social and cultural challenges facing today’s world.”  As part of follow-up measures to the Seoul Conference, the UNESCO Executive Board adopted the recommendations for the implementation of the Agenda of the Conference and decided to declare the last week of May every year to be an arts education week. The designation will be officially announced following its adoption at the UNESCO General Conference in October 2011.

Tourism and Sports

Two-way international tourism has expanded considerably. During 2010, international tourists visiting Korea are estimated to reach 8.5 million and the number of Koreans heading overseas 12 million. This contrasts with the 2009 figures when inbound tourists reached 7.81 million and outbound tourists 9.5 million.

To celebrate the G20 Seoul Summit, the T20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting was held in Buyeo, Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong Province) October 11-13, 2010. The participants agreed that tourism policies should contribute substantially to sustained shared growth. They pledged to encourage both developing and industrialized countries to help each other so that both can benefit on an equitable basis.

The Ministers’ Meeting adopted the T20 Buyeo Declaration and referred it to the President of the Republic of Korea, the chair of the 2010 G20 Seoul Summit. France, the chair of the next G20 Summit, was designated as the host of the next T20 Ministers’ Meeting.

Gist of the T20 Buyeo Declaration

Member countries will strive so that tourism will help contribute to overcoming the global economic crisis and to sustained and balanced growth throughout the world. They took note of the fact that tourism yields 5 percent of the GDP and 6-7 percent of jobs worldwide. Tourism accounts for 30 percent of the countries’ service exports totaling US$1 trillion annually. Member countries will contribute to further promoting tourism traffic, creation of new jobs and green growth. The members will do their best to mitigate the gaps in tourism through fair tourism and transfer of technologies. Fair tourism or responsible tourism denotes among other things that countries will refrain from developing tourism resources aimed at attracting travelers from industrialized countries in a lopsided fashion. It also provides that tourism will not result in undue damage to the residents of the tourist sites. It was also decided that Korea would host the 19th UNWTO General Assembly. Members affirmed their need to establish a strong, cooperative relationship with international organizations, including the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the International Labor Organization (ILO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Trade Center (ITC).

Since 2008, the Korean Government and other international organizations have been building a special partnership with the UNWTO to carry out Sustainable Tourism—Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) Projects in 14 developing countries.

Some Details of the ST-EP Projects

(In thousand US dollars)

Year	Budget	Target Countries	Project Contents
2008	US$715	Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Albania, Cambodia and Nepal.	In Bolivia and Peru, projects focused on strengthening community-based tourism. In Nicaragua, bigger tourist businesses were matched with smaller ones for mutual collaboration. In Ecuador, attention was given to comprehensive development of resources, including nurturing community-based tourism in rural areas.
2009	US$697
2010	US$625

Note: Korean support for the projects is for 2008-2010

Further instances of Korea’s international cooperation include the conclusion of an MOU with Ghana in October 2010 for the installation of tourist guide information signs. Some 35 such signs were put up in 10 Ghanaian districts using a budget of US$330,000 offered by the Korean Government. 

Cooperative projects by the Korean Government are often conducted in tandem with the WTO and the OECD Tourism Committee. Through these programs, the country invites 25 mid-level government officials from 20 Asia-Pacific countries every year. It occasionally invites trainees from ASEAN members for tour guide education.

The Korean Government has been proactive in concluding tourism agreements. Up to November 2010, the Republic had signed tourism MOUs with 28 countries. As of the date, it is negotiating bilateral arrangements with 8 other countries.

The Korean Government is placing priority on promoting low-carbon, green tourism as part of fulfilling its climate change obligations. Its goal is set at a 30 percent reduction of the country’s expected green house gas emission by the year 2020. The Korean Government enacted the Framework Act on Low-Carbon, Green Growth in January 2010, making the country the first in the world to do so.

Government policy stipulates the intensive control of carbon emissions at large tourist sites and amusement parks as a means of fostering eco-tourism. The objective is to preserve the environment and create more jobs. For instance, the Suncheon Bay special ecotourism project attracted 2.3 million visitors during 2009, adding 6,400 new jobs.

Korea has expanded international sports exchanges and supported athletic training for those coming from developing countries. The number of Korea-sponsored games was 29 in 2008, 30 in 2009, and 30 in 2010. Meanwhile, instances of athletic exchange projects increased from 12 in 2008, to 13 in 2009, and 14 in 2010. Instances of training athletes from developing countries ranged from 33 in 2008, to 43 in 2009, and to 39 in 2010.

The Korean Government designated taekwondo as a core sports for training in developing countries. The program provides taekwondo supplies, training in Korea and training by Korean masters in specified countries as well as dispatches demonstration teams. The Government has appropriated 2.98 billion won or US$2.6 million to be used in 95 countries for that purpose from 2008 through 2010.

The Korean Government’s Vision for the Future 

The Korean Government will continue to expand its international cooperation programs in the area of culture, sports and tourism. Its contribution will be bolstered so that it would be worthy of a country that sits on the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD as one of a dozen leading economies of the world. What is so unique about the role of Korea is that it is perfectly qualified to serve as a bridge linking developing and developed countries. The Korean Government is ready and willing to lead international efforts to boost the potential for green growth worldwide in all areas of common interests, including tourism and other culture industries. 

미디어센터

각 정상들이모이고 환률과 균형성장, 개발국에 대한지원,  IMF의 지분율, Green energy등 세계경제의 모든 흐름을 결정지을 2010 G-20 Summit이 코엑스에서 열린다. 현재는 삼엄한 경호속에 재무차관회의와 Sherpa회의가 한창 진행중인 세계의 심장부, 서울의 회의장소에 내가 발을 들일 수 있다는 것 그리고 그를 취재하는 세계의 유수의 언론사들의 기자들과 같은 자리에서 모든 소식을 접할 수 있다는 것은 국제관계를 전공하는 학생으로 흔치 않은 기회이기에 사뭇 다른 흥분은 G20 출입등록소에서 출입증을 받아들며 실감할 수 있었다.

중앙일보측에서 나온 두분의 기자분들과 1시에 만나기로 약속을 한지라 같이 나와함께 y20에 참석했던 맴버들을 12시 45분에 정문에서 만나기로해 출입증을 받은 행복함을 가라앉히고 입구로향하였다. 

검색이 끝나고 안으로 들어가자 코엑스 내부는 주변의 삼엄한 경호와는 다르게 평화로워보였다.

팀원들이 모이고 만나뵙기로한 기자분들이 있는 미디어센터에 들어섰다. 한번 더 출입증 확인을하고나서 들어선 미디어센터는 전세계의 관심의 정도를 대변하듯 엄청난 규모였다. 아직 각국의 정상들이 도착하지 않은 상황에서 앞으로 있을 정상회의 취재를 준비하며 약간은 숨을 고르는 분위기이다. 

잠시 뒤 중앙일보기자 두분이 우리를 맞이하여주셨고 브리핑실을 지나서 취재진들이 기다리는 동안 잠시 휴식을 취할 수 있게 마련된 라운지에 들어섰다.

라운지에서는 커피를 기다리며 안면있는 기자들간의 간단한인사를 건네는 모습이 취재시 앞다투어 뛰어나가는 경쟁자들의 모습보다는 오랜 친구들을 만나는 듯한 모습들이였다. 

기자분들의 자세한 설명을 듣고나서야 조금씩 시야에 미디어센터의 전체적인 모습이 들어오기 시작하였다.

한국의 한 기업의 지원으로 만들어졌다는 초대형 화면이 한쪽편에 놓여있었다. 영문으로 들어간 설명으로보아 한국을 방문한 외신기자들에게 한국을 알리고자 만들어진 것을 알 수있는 영상은 외신기자들 뿐만아니라 한국인인 나로서도 한국의 아름다움에 감탄하지 않을 수 없었게하였다. 

웅장하면서도 세심하게 제작된 영상을 보고나서 주변에 비치된 책장을 보았다. 한국을 대표하는 문학작품들이 여러나라 언어로 번역되어있었고 한국에 대한 전반적인 이해를 돕는 책자들이 모여져있었다. 꼭 보고싶은 책들이 있어 가져가고 싶은 마음이 들었다. 잠시 쉬는동안 읽어보라고 비치된 책자이겠지 싶어 가져갈 엄두를 내지 못하다가 혹시나하는 마음에 안내 데스크에 물어보았다. 대답은 의외였다. 비치된 책들은 원하면 가져갈 수 있다는 대답을 들었다. 원하던 책을 가져갈 수 있다라는 즐거움이 생기기도 전에 한국을 방문한 외국인들에게 조금이라도 한국의 아름다움과 발전을 전하기위해 준비된 모든 것들이 체계적으로 준비되었다는 것에 나는 또 한번 감탄할 수 밖에 없었다.

안내데스크는 각국의 언어를 구사하는 진행요원들이 상주하고있었으며 기사를 작성할 데스크위에는 동시통역시 필요한 리시버들이 가지런하게 놓여있었다. 자원봉사로 온 학생들도 단정하였으며 하루종일 서있어 다리가 아플텐데도 불구하고 모든사람들에게 웃음을 잃지 않았다.

처음 내가 출입증을 받고 세계의 중심지에 발을 들일 수 있다는 설레임은 미디어센터안에 하나하나 세심히 준비된 모습들을 보며 의장국으로서 외국인에 비칠 한국의 모습에 대한 자부심으로 바뀌고 있었다.

오늘 내가 본 미디어센터는 세계로 퍼져나갈 국제적인 사안에 대한 소식을 보내는 곳이 아니며 의장국의 위세를 들어내는 것도 아닌 한국의 참모습을 보여주는 준비된 곳이였으며 한국인으로서의 자부심을 느낄 수 있던 곳이였다.