All eyes are on Singapore this week for the historic summit between
U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
So maybe it’s no surprise that businesses are cashing in on the summit
and they're rolling out specials like this kimchi burger served with fries and Korean rice rolls.
And bringing in impersonators...
I mean Trump and Kim, from far away lands.
Trump might be trying to get Mexico to pay for a wall,
but a Mexican restaurant here isn’t holding any grudges.
In fact, it’s named a taco after him - the El Trumpo,
which has a beef patty, cheese and pickles in it.
Kim isn’t missing out - he’s got his own Rocket Man taco,
which has red cabbage, fried chicken and Korean spicy sauce.
Lucha Loco’s general manager Will Leonard says he’s seen
a 20% increase in customers - thanks to the tacos.
It's been amazing. Every day we've been selling out.
We've got 30 sets of each taco and they've sold out every day.
Bistro owner Zach Wen isn’t making too much profit at the moment,
but he has some pretty lofty goals.
Zach’s solution to harmony is a dish that includes
Korean, American and Singaporean influences.
Basing his inspiration on a traditional Singaporean dish, nasi lemak,
made with coconut rice and sambal chili sauce, he’s replaced fried chicken with
dry-aged beef from the United States, and local pickled vegetables with Korean kimchi.
Bringing the U.S. dry-aged beef to make Mr. Trump happy
because he's very determined about his export of U.S. beef.
It’s not just food and beverage businesses.
Tech startup Vybes is also counting on the summit to bring some users to their app,
which links influencers and content creators directly to their fans.
They hired Trump and Kim impersonators for the weekend,
and people could pay between S$10 and S$15 through the app for selfies with them.
That's how Donald shakes.
Businesses may be laughing all the way to the bank,
but does Singapore as a whole really profit?
At least three of Singapore’s top hotels will be getting in on the action.
The Capella will host the summit.
It’s located on the island of Sentosa away from downtown Singapore,
and it’s been completely booked out.
Singapore has hosted similar events between world leaders, such as the meeting
between Chinese president Xi Jinping and Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-Jeou.
But questions are still looming about who will be footing the bills.
The U.S. State Department has confirmed that it will not pay
for the expenses of the North Korean delegation.
But cash-strapped North Korea has a knack for getting other countries to pay.
South Korea picked up the $2.6 million bill for North Korea’s 400 participants
at the Winter Olympics this year.
Singapore’s defense minister said that Singapore will bear
some of the costs for the planned summit.
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which won the
Nobel Peace Prize last year, also offered to chip in with the million dollars it won.
Then there’s the tricky question of who will pay for Kim Jong Un’s hotel bills,
to be at the St. Regis Hotel in the heart of Singapore’s prime shopping district.
The presidential suite there is priced at about $9,600.
Luckily for him, Mr Kim doesn’t have to worry about drinks.
Stan, the owner of downtown bar Escobar, has been waiting for the summit to happen.
The actual deal was if Trump and Kim do not meet, we’ll carry it on until they meet.
So, he’s made lots of drinks just for the occasion.
There are shots, and there are cocktails, including a Trump cocktail with bourbon
and a Kim cocktail with Korean alcohol soju.
He’s so excited that he’s priced the cocktails at S$12.60,
in reference to the summit’s date.
And Kim, Trump and delegates will get to drink for free.
So, do you personally prefer the Trump or the Kim?
Nah, I’m not going to get into that!
Singapore may have to pay up to host the summit.
But the prestige of brokering world peace, that may be priceless.