Over 2,000 journalists to be at reunion

For the upcoming August 15 reunions of family members separated since the Korean War, more than 2,000 journalists, both domestic and international, are expected to descend on Korea.

"Currently, we have received applications for press passes to the Seoul Press Center,¡± Oh Heung-Keun, an official at the National Public Information Agency, said. ¡°The numbers are 1,309 from 110 domestic news media and 369 applications from 88 news media from 16 foreign nations. As we draw nearer to the reunions, the numbers probably will increase to over 2,000."

The number of journalists hoping to cover the reunion is greater in comparison to the 1,300 journalists for the inter-Korean Summit.

With so much media interest, a red alert has been sounded at the Unification Ministry and the National Public Information Agency, which have the responsibility of handling the reunion and the press.

For the inter-Korean Summit, the two departments simply distributed the flow of news information and video clips, which came from Pyongyang. However, for the reunion, the actual meetings, the dinner, and sightseeing tours will take place at different locations.

While the main press center will be set up at the Walker Hill Hotel where the North Koreans will stay, there also will be special rooms for journalists at the meeting place, COEX, and the Olympic Parktel, where the South Korean family members will stay.