Hanbok Fashion Show to Celebrate the G20 click here for detail

The G20 Hanbok Fashion Show will be held on November 12 at the Changdeokgung Palace for spouses of G20 national leaders to enjoy the delicate and sophisticated beauty of Korea’s national costume. Korea’s most acclaimed Hanbok designers will present some of their newest designs at the show along with some classic pieces. The show is organized and supported by Kim Yoon-ok, the First Lady of the Republic of Korea.

What Is Sherpa? - Click for Detail

A Sherpa is the President or Prime Minister’s personal representative responsible for negotiating possible agreements at international events such as the G8 and G20, which reduces the amount of time and resources required at the negotiations of the heads of state at the final summit. The Sherpa is usually a senior diplomat, civil servant or in some cases, politician.

The name is derived from the Sherpa people who serve as guides and porters in the Himalaya Mountains, a metaphor indicating that the Sherpa clears the way for a head of state at a major summit.

The last G20 Sherpa meeting was held in Seoul from July 19 to 22 this year.

Seoul G20 Business Summit - Click for Detail

South Korea will be holding a meeting of global business leaders on November 10 and 11 in Seoul prior to the G20 Seoul Summit. Around 80 chief executives of global companies from G20 member nations and 20 business leaders from non-member countries are expected to participate. Four major issues will be addressed – trade and investment, green growth, finance, and corporate social responsibility – to achieve sustainable and balanced growth. The results of the discussions will be reported and recommended to the Seoul G20 summit.

Check this out Click for detail

To view some G20 economy/finance-related statistics, visit the following web site (Korea Statistical Information Service) :

Check this out ! Click here for Video

"Shared Growth Beyond Crisis"

To view an introductory video clip on the G20 Seoul Summit :

G20 Cultural Events and Global Gatherings - click here for details

During the two-day summit period, a variety of cultural events will be held for diplomatic delegations and representatives from international organizations as well as for global tourists, including: Jongmyojereak (a royal ancestral rite, a UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritage) performed by the National Center for the Korean Traditional Performing Arts ; the special exhibition “Masterpieces of Goryeo Buddhist Painting” at the National Museum of Korea ; lectures on world literature, art exhibitions and film screenings organized by the National Library of Korea.

G20 Gyeongju Meeting Held on Oct. 21-23- click here for detail

The G20 Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors was held on October 21-23 in Gyeongju, South Korea. The gathering was designed to review and coordinate key agendas for the upcoming G20 Seoul Summit. At the summit, currency issues sparked strong interest. Korea, as chair, played an active role in mediating conflicts among member nations. Meeting attendees agreed to implement market-determined exchange rate policies and refrain from competitive devaluation of currencies to tackle trade imbalances.

Official Events and Schedule of the Seoul Summit- click here for detail

The rough schedule of the G20 Seoul Summit slated for November 11 and 12 is as follows :

Nov 11 (Thur)
- Welcome Reception
- Working Dinner of the Heads of State

Nov 12 (Fri)
- Morning Summit
- Working Luncheon of the Heads of State
- Evening Summit
- Press Conference

The Schedule of the G20 Seoul Summit

Unlike other international summits such as APEC and ASEM which include social mingling among participants and other ceremonial functions, G20 summits are thoroughly business-oriented. For example, the following was President Lee Myung-bak’s schedule for the London Summit held on April 2 and 3 of 2008.

Day 1 (April 2)
09:30 (Korea time): Departing from Korea
14:30 (London time, onwards): Arriving in London
15:30~16:00: Check-in
17:30~
- Summit with the then UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown
- Reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace
(*Invitees composed only of heads of state and ministerial-level entourage)
- Working Dinner
23:00: Retiring

Day 2 (April 3)
07:30~15:00
- Working Breakfast
- Morning Summit
- Working Luncheon
- Finalizing communiqué (official report)
16:00~
- Dialogue/dinner with Korean expatriates in the UK

Day 3 (April 4)
- Breakfast with UK-based Korean business men
- Summit with President Hu Jintao of China and Prime Minister Aso of Japan
- Luncheon with UK finance leaders
- Heading for the airport to return to Korea

New Agenda for G20- click here for Detail

In addition to delivering on previous G20 commitments, Korea as the G20 president for 2010, will also bring new perspectives and new issues to the G20, with a view to addressing the needs of the emerging and developing world as part of the effort to support sustainable growth globally.

* Global Financial Safety Net System

Korea is advocating strengthening global financial safety nets to assist countries to deal with capital volatility. Without reliable financial safety nets, many emerging and developing countries have had to rely on self-insurance, giving them greater impetus to accumulate large foreign reserves.

* Development Issues

Korea is also interested in fostering renewed discussions on development issues. The G20 leaders collectively recognized that narrowing the development gap and reducing poverty are integral to the broader objectives to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced growth, as well as to ensure a more robust and resilient global economy. Korea will act as a bridge between the advanced, emerging and developing worlds by fully engaging all relevant stakeholders, with a focus on the development needs of low income countries.