Text Fwd: [Hankyoreh Column] The Seoul Olympics and the G-20 [한겨레 의견난] 서울 올림픽과 G20

Hankyoreh
[Column] The Seoul Olympics and the G-20
By Jung E-gil, Opinionnet Editor
Posted on : Nov.6,2010

EXCERPT

Twenty-two years later, the Olympics atmosphere is back in Korea with the G-20 Summit meeting. It feels like the whole country has been mobilized, but while in the past it was merriment for the guests, today it is rigid order for the South Korean people. Every day when you turn on the television, the government is going on about the G-20. At the first official presidential press conference after dodging them for a year and a month, President Lee merely reiterated the government line about this being an opportunity for enhancing national prestige and improving the nation’s fortunes. It feels as though “the elevation of Korea’s prestige” is the theme of this summit meeting.

Previously, the government pushed to amend the Assembly and Demonstration Act and bring in sound cannons, claiming that it would be rude to have demonstrations while guests were being entertained for the meeting. At the preceding G-20 meeting in Toronto, some 600 people were arrested after a variety of demonstrations by a total of around 30 thousand people.

The 1999 World Trade Organization ministerial conference in Seattle was effectively scuttled by throngs of demonstrators from around the world. The “Battle of Seattle” became a milestone in the anti-globalization movement. Beginning with the G-7, the predecessor of the G-20, global gatherings like the WTO meeting turned into a stage for “global demonstrating,” and have remained so ever since. The prestige of the host nation has not been diminished simply because demonstrations were held.

Large-scale global events took place during the administration of Kim Dae-jung (the Asia-Europe Meeting and World Cup) and Roh Moo-hyun (the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum), but there was none of this kind of ruckus. Some are even saying that the Lee administration has so little to stand for in accomplishments “Four Major Rivers Restoration Project on the inside, G-20 for the outside” - its top accomplishments in domestic administration and foreign affairs.