(LEAD) S. Korea begins preparation for G-20 Seoul meeting

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead paras; UPDATES with additional remarks from the
committee chairman)
By Byun Duk-kun

SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea began official preparations Monday for the
G-20 economic summit to be held here next year with the opening of a Seoul office
for its organizing committee.
"The G-20 summit is a meeting of the world's most influential leaders. As the
head of such a meeting, there is so much we have to do," Sakong Il, the head of
the presidential committee, told reporters. "We must suggest solutions for
various problems facing the world."
South Korea assumes chairmanship of the world's premier economic forum at the
beginning of next year and will host its fifth summit in Seoul in November
following a series of lead-up ministerial talks to be held throughout the
country.
"This office will become the very site where we will not only mark a chapter in
our own diplomatic history but also in the world's economic history," Sakong said
in a ceremony marking the opening of the committee office, located at the Korea
Banking Institute near the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul.
The ceremony was attended by some 100 government officials, including Foreign
minister Yu Myung-hwan and Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon.
Oh said the city government launched its own task force to prepare for the Seoul
G-20 meeting.
The city is considering holding the summit at a convention center on a floating
island in the Han River, the mayor said at the ceremony. "The city is working to
provide complete and thorough support."
The construction of the artificial island is expected to be completed next spring.
The G-20 summit will be one of the largest international conference to be held in
Seoul, attended by 20 heads of state and some 15 other heads of leading
international organizations, such as the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund, Sakong said.
The leaders will be accompanied by some 3,500 officials, as well as some 3,000
journalists covering the event, he said.
When asked if Seoul was considering inviting North Korea to the Seoul meeting,
Sakong said it was unlikely because the forum strictly deals with economic and
financial issues.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)