Dress Code and Gift List for Entourage Members

According to the weather information given by North Korea, the weather in Pyongyang during the summit talks is likely to be hot with temperatures around 29 degrees celsius, a little over the seasonal average.

Son In-kyo, who is currently in North Korea in preparation of the meeting, informed entourage members that they should bring extra clothes to change into.

Son suggested 2 suits for official entourage members and a single suit for unofficial entourage members.

For tours to historical places, casual dress is allowed, with sports wear acceptable for jogging around the accommodations at Baekhwa-won.

Many members are busy preparing gifts and an official familiar with the summit said, “North Korea has required that gifts be given publicly or in groups,” even when South Koren members wish to give a gift to a driver or receptionist.

President Kim is known to have a pair of female Jin-do dogs, an indigenous Korean purebred, while his secretariates will carry 100 gift sets of Munbaeju, a traditional Korean liquor. Pyongyang in the old days was well known for making this liquor but is no longer brewing it.

The Huh Gap-Bum, the presidential doctor, has two boxes of the cigarettes called “A single Heart” which are jointly produced by the two Koreas, a skin-care set for men, and a fountain pen. Some of the gifts listed by other member include a gold ring inscribed with “Peace” and “Unification,” 10 neckties, and 10 sets of female skin-care products.

The amount of goods to be used by the members of the South Korean delegation during their visit is huge. Five 11-ton trucks have already transported items such as instant noodles, first-aid kits, and computers to Pyongyang. Additional goods are to be carried by courier scheduled to travel between Seoul and Pyongyang twice a day.

by Ko Jung-ae