The obligatory post about K-Pop

My life today: sitting in Starbucks, country music blaring, devising a French media strategy, in English, in Korea. You know, the usual.  Only to be interrupted by Al Jazeera English who want to drive half way across Seoul to talk about the ‘currency wars’.

I couldn’t make this up.

My colleague Soren did a great job of talking eloquently on currency and how it affects the poor. If you want to know what he said, keep an eye on Al Jazeera English.

I know that as a scorned NGO staff member that wasn’t granted access to the actual centre for the G20 and who is morally opposed to a deliberately exclusive elitist meeting- this Korean propaganda may have just won me over. That’s right, the government has turned its best national export- not Samsung flat screens, but K-Pop to convince people that the G20 is super awesome.

It adds to an enormous, ridiculous amount of advertising blanketing the city. Today the front (and back) page of the English language Korea Herald was dedicated to welcoming visiting CEO’s that are here for a side meeting as part of the G20. They were welcomed lavishly, and I know because the Hearld showed pictures of the 12 course meal they were served and the luxurious hotel where they were staying.

Meanwhile, the number of NGO’s represented in the summit can be counted on one hand. Outrageous much?

So the G20 proper is ready to kick off. I watched events unfold today on twitter as Julia Gillard arrived in Seoul, having the red carpet rolled out for her.

Meanwhile expectations for meaningful change at the G20 sink even lower. It seems everyone’s eyes are already on France for 2011 where there is more hope for progress. Maybe not so much with the K-Pop though….