Korean companies send emergency aid to World Scout Jamboree
A medical worker from Samsung Medical Center treats a patient at the 25th World Scout Jamboree's campsite in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, Sunday. Courtesy of Samsung
By Park Jae-hyuk
Korea's privately owned enterprises are helping the government solve problems related to the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, even if most of them did not sign a sponsorship agreement with the event's organizer.
When the event's fate hung in the balance over the weekend due to concerns over an unrelenting heat wave and poor facility management affecting the health and safety of the participants, multiple domestic companies decided to send emergency aid to the campsite.
On Saturday, Samsung C&T sent 15 mobile toilets equipped with air conditioners, seven sprinkler trucks and five power generators, as well as 11 golf carts and two electric vehicles.
Workers install Samsung C&T's mobile toilets at the 25th World Scout Jamboree's campsite in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, Saturday. Courtesy of Samsung
Samsung Medical Center also sent five doctors, four nurses and two assistants ― including a pediatrician ― to provide free medical services until the event's closing on Aug. 12. A medical bus with first-aid medical supplies and an ambulance were also sent to Saemangeum.
The decisions were made after Samsung provided the Korean Red Cross with 100,000 bottles of sports drinks and another 100,000 bottles of vitamin drinks for the Jamboree participants. Samsung is one of the official contributors to the event, but it is not among the official sponsors.
In addition, around 150 new employees of Samsung affiliates will be sent to the venue, Monday, to help volunteer workers clean up the trash. Samsung Electronics will also invite around 550 scouts per day to tour the company's factories and innovation museum.
“We decided to send our new employees to the venue so that they can learn about corporate social responsibility before they learn about their own work,” a Samsung official said Sunday. “The tour program will allow the Scouts to experience Korea's advanced technologies.”
LG Group's affiliates decided to send a total of 200,000 bottles of mineral water and sports drinks, 300 tarps and six refrigerator trucks. The conglomerate also offered 10,000 cooling scarves, portable fans, power banks and hygiene items, such as shampoo, soap, detergent and insect repellent.
HD Hyundai sent around 120 employees of its three shipbuilding subsidiaries ― HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries ― to fix facilities including toilets. They will support sanitary and safety management throughout the event.
SPC Group decided to distribute 35,000 Paris Baguette ice cream treats and another 35,000 packages of Paris Baguette bread every day to the participants until the event's closing.
E-mart decided to send 700,000 bottles of mineral water and considered supplying additional necessary products for the Scouts. The Federation of Korean Industries and Hanjin also sent thousands of bottles of mineral water.
Hanjin's trucks carrying bottled water move to the 25th World Scout Jamboree's campsite in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, Saturday. Courtesy of Hanjin
The Korea International Trade Association sent 45,000 cooling scarves in collaboration with AsungDaiso. Pharmcle donated 10,000 insect repellents.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry sent 400 large iceboxes to the campsite.
GS Retail, which is running a GS25 convenience store at the campsite, decided to distribute 40,000 bottles of frozen mineral water for free every day and send around 50 employees from its Seoul headquarters for assistance.
Ourhome, which is in charge of catering services as an official sponsor of the event, changed its menu to give the Scouts a better diet with enough vitamins, protein and water. Ourhome CEO Koo Jee-eun also visited Saemangeum to direct the operations.
Both GS and Ourhome, however, faced criticism, as the former overcharged the participants for its products, while the latter distributed rotten eggs to some participants. After the criticism, GS cut the prices of products at its convenience store at the venue, and Ourhome replaced the local egg supplier.
Amid the lingering controversies over the Jamboree, the official sponsors have stopped their marketing campaigns related to the global event.