Government blamed for World Scout Jamboree disaster in South Korea

The South Korean government has been accused of being responsible for the disastrous World Scout Jamboree last year, which led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of participants due to problems with food and medical facilities. Independent findings criticized the Korean Scout Association and the government for sidelining the scout group and taking the lead role in organizing the event. However, the government denied these claims, stating that it only played a supporting role to the Scout Association.

The Jamboree is described as the world’s largest youth camp, gathering young scouts from around the world every four years. The event last August was plagued with issues from the beginning, with children fainting in the extreme heat and a shortage of essential supplies such as food and medical resources. The UK contingent withdrew over 4,500 child scouts due to these problems, prompting other countries to follow suit.

An independent panel’s report accused the South Korean government of deliberately misleading international and national scout organizations about the state of preparations for the event. The report highlighted significant challenges and deficiencies in safety, security, medical support, food, and sanitation. It also criticized the government for taking on the lead organizer role, causing structural and coordination complications that exacerbated the event’s problems.