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Minister vows to make World Scout Jamboree safe event
Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook speaks during a media conference at the Press Center in central Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
By Jun Ji-hye
British adventurer Bear Grylls to attend opening ceremony, Aug. 2
By Jun Ji-hye
The Korean government has drawn up various safety measures to manage crowds, infectious diseases, natural disasters as well as possible accidents during the upcoming 25th World Scout Jamboree in a bid to make it a safe event, Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hyun-sook said, Tuesday.
The World Scout Jamboree will take place from Aug. 1 to 12 on reclaimed land at Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, on the country's west coast, bringing together over 43,000 teenagers from 150 countries.
Organized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement, it is the world's largest youth camp held every four years, aiming to promote friendship and facilitate public diplomacy through civil exchanges.
“The upcoming Jamboree will mark the first large-scale international youth event since before the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kim said during a press conference in Seoul. “The event will serve as an opportunity to showcase Korean culture as well as its advanced digital technologies to youth from around the world and restore a sense of normalcy in their daily lives.”
Kim said her ministry and the Organizing Committee for the 25th World Scout Jamboree - 2023 SaeManGeum have decided to deploy some 500 security workers at major spots to minimize congestion and ensure safe and orderly movement of crowds during the opening and closing ceremonies as well as K-pop performances. Local police and fire departments will assist in crowd control.
In a bid to formulate relevant countermeasures for possible outbreaks of infectious diseases including COVID-19, the government formed an eight-member taskforce ― comprised of officials from the ministry, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the North Jeolla Province government as well as health experts ― in February last year.
Kim said COVID-19 testing centers and separate spaces for the isolation of those who test positive will be operated.
Considering that the Korean summer is usually in full swing in August and heavy rain and floods are common, the government developed a “Natural Disaster Crisis Response Action Manual” to provide guidelines on actions required for different levels of weather alerts.
“The government will also operate seven cooling centers in preparation for heat waves and 342 indoor relief shelters in preparation for torrential rain,” Kim said. “We have also maintained a sewer system within the campsite.”
In case of any accidents, 17 medical facilities, including five offering emergency medical services, will be operated at the event site.
Wonkwang University Hospital, Gunsan Medical Center, Jeonbuk National University Hospital and Jeonju Hospital will cooperate to treat emergency or seriously ill patients.
The minister added British adventurer Bear Grylls will attend the opening ceremony scheduled for Aug. 2 to give a performance.
Korea's IT technologies will be also showcased during the opening ceremony, along with a drone show.