As Trump-Kim summit looms, arrangements for media kick into high gear

SINGAPORE — More than 2,500 journalists from around the world are expected to arrive at the International Media Centre (IMC) from Sunday (June 10), where they will be covering the historic Trump-Kim summit.

When TODAY visited the venue as part of a media tour on Saturday afternoon, it was abuzz with activity as public service officers, caterers and other support personnel put finishing touches to the three-storey space with a gross floor area of 23,000 sqm.

On the ground floor, at least 20 public service officers across various agencies were hunched around the 10 booths that were set up for media registration.

A 900sqm dining hall has also been set up five-minutes away, where local food such as laksa, kaya toast and durian ice-cream will be available for free.

Retailers and caterers were busy sprucing up their respective booths with food items such muffins, juices and pre-packed meals. 

Up on the second floor, four media rooms have been set up. The rooms were filled with long tables fitted with power sockets. Each room can hold up to 500 journalists.

One level above is where the command centre and media press room is located. The media press room, which can hold 200 journalists, will be used to conduct key briefings.

Workstations at the International Media Centre for the DPRK-USA Singapore Summit at the F1 Pit Building, May 9. Photo: Raj Nadarajan/TODAY

More than 300 public service officers will be staffing the IMC from Sunday. The centre will be open round the clock till 10pm on Wednesday.

One of them is Ms Lam Zhi Xin, who will be serving as a media liaison for journalists from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.

Ms Lam, 29, a senior manager at the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI), said: “(The summit) is a fascinating and exciting event for me. Part of my job scope is to establish connections with foreign journalists so this is a good opportunity to do so.”

Covering director at one of MCI’s departments REACH, Mr Aaron Lye, 39, said: “It is a unique experience and it doesn’t come often. If the summit goes smoothly and ends well, it’s nice to know that we had a small part to play in it.”

Given the uncertainty of the “on-again, off-again” summit, Mr Lye said that the preparation work required a lot of “flexibility” and long hours to meet “tight deadlines”.

American President Donald Trump had abruptly cancelled the summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on May 24. Following a flurry of diplomatic activity, both sides later said the event would be held on Tuesday as originally scheduled.

Mr Lye said he had to liaise with private vendors and draw up a shuttle bus booking service with less than two weeks’ notice.

This shuttle service will bring journalists from the IMC to key reporting sites in Sentosa island. Mr Trump and Mr Kim will be meeting in Capella Hotel.

There are currently about 10 to 12 minibuses on standby and each can take around 23 people, added Mr Lye, though he said that more might be added on the day of the summit, depending on demand.

“That’s the challenge… capacity planning (always) requires flexibility,” he said.

NO LACK OF FOOD OPTIONS

Journalists stationed at the IMC will also be treated to a wide-ranging selection of dishes, including novel options such as kimchi ice-cream.

The unique dessert will be provided by Udders, one of several restaurants under the umbrella brand - The Common Good Company. It will also cater food from restaurants like The Soup Spoon and Pastamania over the course of the summit.

Ms Wong Peck Lin, director of The Common Good Company, said that the items catered amounted to a sponsorship value of S$60,000.

International bakery chain Paris Baguette, which is based in South Korea, will also be offering sandwiches, pastry and bottled water.

Managing director of the chain Kenny Lee, said: “This is for a good cause. This is an important event, and the media plays such an important role. So we’d like to support the media.”

Airport ground handler and food firm, Sats, will also be providing lunch and dinner for those stationed at the IMC. Some 45 dishes across 15 cuisines will be on offer, such as beef rendang, laksa, orecchiette pasta and even quinoa salads. 

Speaking to reporters after touring the venue, Communications and Information Minister S Iswaran highlighted the synergy of the government agencies and private sector in the lead up to the summit. 

Mr Iswaran said: “Essentially our agencies and partners from the various private sectors have had to respond and put everything together in the last two weeks.”

“This is really Singapore Inc. at its best. The private sector and public sector working together in a very seamless manner in order to achieve the kind of outcomes we are known for.”