SEOUL, KOREA — In five days’ time, the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) will begin at the COEX Convention Center in Seoul. As a follow-up to the first Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington in 2010, this second summit will welcome a greater number of participating countries for a more concrete discussion of key issues. Korea.net takes a look at the numbers that add up to what will be the largest-scale international conference in Korea’s history.
57. Fifty-three states and four international organizations will be represented at the summit. Heads of state from four countries in the Americas region, 18 in Europe, 14 in the Asia-Pacific region, and nine each in the African and Middle Eastern regions are expected to attend, along with the heads of the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Union, and Interpol.
10,000. With both EU President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso as delegates for the EU, a total of 58 high-level leaders will be present at the summit. Add to that approximately 6,000 staff members, 700 security personnel, and over 3,000 reporters for an arrivals list of approximately 10,000 guests.
50. An estimated 45 to 50 private jets are expected to arrive in Seoul with delegates on board. Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport will be running at full operational capacity to ensure a smooth and safe arrival process. To prepare for the influx of visitors, the Korea Airport Corporation will also be operating multiple entry points for customs and immigration inspections.
12. For the duration of the event, twelve of the city’s highest-rated hotels, including the Shilla Seoul, the Ritz Carlton, Lotte Hotel Seoul, the Westin Chosun, the Grand Intercontinental, and the COEX Intercontinental will play host to delegates and visitors.
94. Though the 53 states represented at the summit make up no more than 30% of the 182 member states of the UN, in terms of economic activity they comprise 94% of the world’s GDP. In terms of population, they account for 80% of the world population.
36,000. With heads of state from all over the world coming to Seoul, security measures will be at their highest. Various duties will be performed by 36,000 police officers, such as providing security services for delegates, manning anti-terror patrols, and directing traffic. Of these officers, 5,000 will be stationed in the area around the summit venue, and entry will be restricted while the summit is in session.
748. Media management, liaison duties, and all additional pre- and post-event arrangements will be handled by the 748 members of the summit staff. Fluent speakers of English, Chinese, French, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Turkish, Indonesian, and other languages, the staff includes university students, public officials, academics, business leaders, freelancers, military personnel, and also foreigners. An additional 1,500 volunteers hired by the Seoul Metropolitan Government will be assisting visitors in finding accommodations as well as cultural and tourist activities.
*Article from Korea.net magazine.
