Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Korea ready to offer fully-digitalized Jamboree
ICT Minister Lee Jong-ho, second from left, inspects a mobile astronomical observatory in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, where the World Scout Jamboree will take place from Aug. 1 to 12, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Science and ICT
By Baek Byung-yeul
By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea is ready to offer an array of fully digitalized services to young people taking part in the World Scout Jamboree, which will be held in Saemangeum in Korea from Aug. 1 to 12. They will be able to use fast mobile network services and experience cutting-edge digital technologies such as the metaverse, and be protected by secure technology that prevents accidents through an AI-based CCTV system, the ICT ministry said Sunday.
The ministry said it conducted a final inspection of the event site in Saemangeum in North Jeolla Province, on the country's west coast, for the event that will bring together over 43,000 teenagers from 150 countries.
The inspection centered on digital infrastructure and digital services, including Wi-Fi using 28 GHz frequency 5G base stations and AI technology-based CCTV, to ensure that the international event will be held in a safe environment.
Organized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement, the World Scout Jamboree is a global youth camping festival held every four years. This year's Saemangeum event is the largest international event for Korea after the COVID-19 pandemic.
ICT Minister Lee Jong-ho tries out a virtual reality riding device at a metaverse experience facility located in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, where the World Scout Jamboree will take place from Aug. 1 to 12, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Science and ICT
ICT Minister Lee Jong-ho visited Saemangeum on Friday to inspect the facility.
“During the Jamboree, we will continue to work with the organizers and actively support them using digital technologies so that the many youths here can feel the cutting-edge digital technologies of Korea and take that memory home with them,” the minister said.
The minister visited the CCTV control center equipped with AI-based intelligent technology and watched a simulated demonstration to automatically detect accidents such as fires or intrusions into prohibited areas. He also checked the indoor air disinfection of the Global Leader Center, a complex where a hospital and other facilities are located and experienced the Wi-Fi network speed.
In cooperation with local mobile carrier KT, participants at the event will be provided with Wi-Fi speeds that can stably render normal-quality video even in a densely packed space of more than 40,000 people. In addition, three mobile carriers ― SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus ― deployed additional mobile base stations to ensure smooth communication services for participants using roaming services.
Seen is a large campground in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, where the World Scout Jamboree will take place from Aug. 1 to 12, July 26. Courtesy of Buan County
Lee also visited the Metaverse Experience Center, where visitors can enjoy extended reality (XR) content and a mobile astronomical science center, which provides science programs, telescopes and a solar observation area, to check the preparation status of digital services that many teenagers will experience.
“The metaverse center is a place where visitors can see and touch the latest digital contents of Korea with all five senses,” Lee said. “We will provide various experience services so that the youth who come to Saemangeum Jamboree can remember their dreams, future and digitalized Korea.”
The postal services center on the Saemangeum site will have about 10,000 stamps of K-pop boy band BTS available, the ICT ministry added. Among the stamps, the most popular items are expected to be the Scout Jamboree limited edition ones that are expected to appeal to scouts from all around the world.