Jamboree situation must be fixed quickly

Participants of the 2023 World Scout Jamboree being held at Saemangeum, an estuarine tidal flat region in Buan County, North Jeolla, are falling ill from the sizzling heat. Outdoor events on a large scale were held in extreme heat.

Sloppy management by the organizer made matters worse. During the opening ceremony that began at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, over 100 people succumbed to heat-related illnesses. On the first day of the event, on Monday, over 400 people — mostly children and teenagers — complained of feeling sick in some form. Participants groaned that they felt like they were playing a survival game rather than attending a tournament. The organizing committee blurted out a lame excuse, saying that the same mishap could have happened in any country.

Extreme heat had been forecast before the event began. Early August tends to be the hottest month in Korea. The camping site is spread out near the tidal flat on the coast of the Yellow Sea, completely free of any natural greenery or shade. Although most of the events are carried out outdoors, cooling apparatuses and public showers are lacking. The vast field sizzled as if it was an enormous sauna, with steamy water pools left over from last month’s heavy monsoon rainfall.

Although the dangers were highly predictable, the event was poorly planned and carried out. Toilets and shower booths were not only few and far between, but they were unhygienic due to poor cleaning and management. Tents were loosely partitioned, raising the alarm about privacy. Food and drinks, despite the stifling climate, were also insufficient. Scouts had to cook their own food with the materials they got from the organizing committee, and some reportedly had received rotten eggs.
The clumsy hosting could develop into a diplomatic issue. Countries who value the safety of children could take the matter seriously. The British government has sent a letter to Korea expressing concerns about the extreme weather conditions during the event period. The country has sent the largest group of attendees, 4,500, to the event.

Saemangeum had bid to host the World Scout Jamboree to introduce Korea’s unique natural environment and culture. The event has drawn over 43,000 people from about 150 countries. It is the first Jamboree event in Korea in over 30 years since the last hosting in Gosung, Gangwon, in 1991. But the shameful operation may end up doing more harm than good to Korea’s reputation. Lee Sang-min, minister of interior and safety and also the co-chair of the event, has ordered emergency action in response to the heat. But the government should have acted pre-emptively against any mishaps.

The government and the organizing committee must hasten to fix the situation so that young visitors from around the world can return home safely with a lasting good impression on Korea.