'We survive. We are Scouts. We don't have problems.'

Moroccan Scout Lina Mestari, third from left, poses with her friends at the Delta zone of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, Sunday. Courtesy of Ministry of Gender Equality and Family

By Jun Ji-hye

• Published Aug 7, 2023 4:08 PM KST
• Updated Aug 8, 2023 4:03 PM KST

Nevertheless, there are people enjoying World Jamboree in Korea

By Jun Ji-hye

SAEMANGEUM, North Jeolla Province ― While the 25th World Scout Jamboree taking place in Korea has faced a torrent of bad news about heat illnesses and hygiene issues, participants are still having fun making new friends and learning about different cultures during the event.

On Sunday, the sixth day of the largest international youth camp held in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, The Korea Times spoke with young Scouts and adult volunteers who were spending time in the Delta zone, the only location where onsite media access is allowed.

At the Delta zone, a number of booths were installed to introduce the cultures of each participating nation. Drums and other musical instruments resounded in the background. Young Scouts were gathering in small groups, chatting and laughing with each other.

Some participants were sitting or lying down in shade tunnels covered with plants that had been installed by the organizer to provide shelter from the unrelenting sunlight. Some grooved while listening to music, while others closed their eyes and relaxed.

Participants said the conditions were initially quite hard, due mainly to the searing heat wave gripping the country in the middle of summer, but things have since improved considerably.

Regarding the withdrawal of the Scouts from Britain and the United States from the campsite over the weekend due to the weather conditions, the participants said they understood the decision, but at the same time, were sad about not being able to spend time with the friends they had made that had left.

David Yao from Sweden said the weather was a “shock” at first, as the climate is a lot cooler in his home country. But he is getting used to the high temperatures and can now enjoy making new friends from around the world.

“We have recently gotten a lot of cold water, which we are very happy for. We also got some free electric fans. Honestly, things are improving,” the 15-year-old said during an interview in front of a souvenir shop at the Delta zone. “I know some other groups had very bad food, but it wasn't too many. In Sweden in general, everyone is quite happy.”

Yao said he has been actively engaging in cultural exchanges with Scouts from other countries and participating in various activities.

“Today, we met some Brazilians. They gave us some food. We also played a game together,” he said. “We also went to a kimchi factory. We made kimchi and tasted it. And we went to a museum in Buan. I really liked that.”

Lina Mestari from Morocco, who was spending time at a booth representing Brazil, said the weather was not a big problem for her because it is also hot in Morocco.

“It's kind of hotter here, but we survive. We are Scouts. We don't have problems,” the 17-year-old said.

She noted that 120 participants came from her home country and the organizer has offered halal meals for them.

“As we are Muslims, they give us halal food. We make out of it something always. For example, they give us some chickens and vegetables so we make some plates,” she said. “We have so many choices. We are pretty satisfied.”

She added that the sanitation problems raised by some participants earlier have been addressed.

“Toilets are cleaner,” she said. “We see people trying to clean everywhere.”

In response to mounting complaints over sanitation problems, the organizing committee has drastically increased the number of cleaners from 70 to 900 to clean toilets and other facilities every hour and enhance pest control.

Regarding the decision made by Britain and the U.S. to pull out their Scouts from the campsite due mainly to concerns over the health conditions of their teenagers, Mestari said the decision was understandable as it would have been more difficult for people living in the northern hemisphere to cope. But she added, “It is really sad as we have some friends from the U.K. and the U.S.”

Yara Straatman, a 20-year-old International Service Team (IST) volunteer from the Netherlands, who was resting in a plant tunnel, also said it was quite hard on the first day, but it is a bit better now.

“They are handing out enough water for the participants. That's better,” she said, noting that cleaning services for IST members still need improvement.

Straatman is working in the Jamboree hospital as a nurse. When talking about the withdrawal of British and U.S. Scouts from the site, she said, “I understand why they left because they wanted to protect their participants.”

But she also noted, “I spoke to patients from the U.S. and the U.K. ― they were quite sad about it.”

The World Scout Jamboree, which is held every four years, is taking place at an 8.84-square-kilometer campsite on reclaimed land along the country's west coast. It aims to provide a chance for young Scouts from around the world to learn about each other's cultures and build friendships through outdoor camping and a variety of activities.

But this year's event saw over 1,000 participants treated for heat-related illnesses.

Following increasing complaints, President Yoon Suk Yeol called for all-out efforts to ensure the sanitation at the Jamboree campsite amid the scorching heat and asked for special care against any incidents, such as food poisoning, according to the presidential office, Sunday.

Yoon also told Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Foreign Minister Park Jin to make sure the British and U.S. contingents, who are staying in Seoul and a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, respectively, safely experience various cultural activities during the remainder of their stay in Korea.

Various outdoor programs

At Gosapo Beach near the campsite, some 800 participants gathered on Monday to participate in outdoor programs offering activities such as forest rope courses, marine activities and making eco-friendly camping supplies.

Yang Eun-jung, a project manager of the Off-site Program Team, said young Scouts visiting the place are enjoying the programs.

“Those who want to take a rest just can lay on hammocks installed in shade,” she said.

Elora Brandt from Sweden who participated in a survival swimming program said it was a “really fun experience.”

“Plus, it is not as hot as when I got here. I feel cooler now,” the 17-year-old said after coming out of the water.

Johana Momm, a 24-year-old IST member from Germany, said the ongoing event is her second Jamboree after one in Japan when she participated as a young Scout in 2015. As an activity leader, she is taking care of young people taking part in marine activities this time.

“You can be a participant only once. I participate as an IST this time because I want other little children to have the same-grade experience that I had in Japan,” she said. “That was why I came here to volunteer for this Jamboree.”