World Scout Jamboree in Korea sparks outcry from participants as heat injuries mount

Scouts participating in the 25th World Scout Jamboree rehydrate from water hoses in Saemangeum, a reclaimed tidal flat in North Jeolla Province, Thursday. Yonhap

'No showers for adult males until 3rd day of event'

By Jun Ji-hye

The 25th World Scout Jamboree, which is taking place in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, has sparked outcries from participants and their parents from around the world who are accusing the organizers of being unprepared and unprofessional.

Complaints have mounted over a variety of issues, including a failure to protect participants from the heat wave and shortages of sanitary facilities as well as communication and sanitation problems.

Tents are installed at the campsite of the 25th World Scout Jamboree at Saemangeum, a reclaimed tidal flat in North Jeolla Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of WSB Inc./Telmo Domingues

One of the participants told The Korea Times on Thursday that there are not enough restrooms to accommodate over 43,000 participants, while shower facilities for adult males are still not ready, although three days have already passed since the largest international youth camp kicked off on Tuesday. She also said the facilities are dirty and trashcans are overflowing.

"Every subcamp is supposed to have sanitary facilities for males, females, non-binary and disabled participants," said a participant from a European country who asked not to be named.

"It is the third day here, and we do not have showers for adult males. In addition, the facilities are in really bad condition. They are dirty and full of bugs and ticks."

She added there has been no proper way of cleaning dishes and disposing of food waste, resulting in overflowing trashcans.

"I am personally afraid that an epidemic outbreak is just a matter of time," she said.

Medical staff treat patients at one medical facility within the campsite of the 25th World Scout Jamboree at Saemangeum, a reclaimed tidal flat in North Jeolla Province, Thursday. Yonhap

The World Scout Jamboree, which is held every four years, is taking place at an 8.84-square-kilometer campsite on the country's west coast, aiming 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 various cultural activities.

But contrary to such expectations, the event has been drawing more negative comments than good ones, as hundreds of people complained of heat-related illnesses on the first and second days of the event. Organizers had given assurances that they had prepared thoroughly for the searing heat wave gripping the country in the middle of summer.

The event is being held on a vast reclaimed tidal flat, which is too open to offer proper shade. With temperatures climbing to nearly 35 degrees Celsius in the region during the day, it is a lot hotter inside tents, leading many participants to leave their shelters in search of other places offering shade.

Organizers said they have set up 1,720 sun shelters and 7.4-kilometer tunnels surrounded by plants so participants can avoid the heat. But they did little to prevent heat-related illnesses.

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Participants of the 25th World Scout Jamboree gather at an ECO tunnel to avoid the heat at the campsite in Saemangeum, a reclaimed tidal flat in North Jeolla Province, Thursday. Yonhap

According to Choi Chang-haeng, secretary-general of the Organizing Committee for the 25th World Scout Jamboree-2023 Saemangeum, a total of 108 patients showing signs of heat-related illness were reported during the opening ceremony, Wednesday.

A day earlier ― on the first day of the event ― 807 patients were reported within the campsite, with more than 400 confirmed to have heat-related illness, according to the Organizing Committee.

Seventeen medical facilities, including five offering emergency medical services, are in operation at the campsite to treat patients. But, according to the participant who was interviewed, those who were sick had communication problems, as many medical staff there could not speak English.

"Talking about illnesses requires going through Google translate," she said.

Mounting complaints from home and abroad

Amid growing concerns, a torrent of negative comments have been written on the official Facebook page of the 25th World Scout Jamboree, including some from parents who sent their children to the youth camp.

This captured image shows complaints written on the official Facebook page of the 25th World Scout Jamboree. Captured from Facebook

One person wrote, "My daughter is there right now and is telling us it is a shame, everything is uncontrolled, no food, no way to protect them from the sun."

Another person wrote, "Don't forget about the overflowing trashcans, toilets that can't flush, and the showers that are backing up."

The ongoing controversy led both the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea to unanimously call on the government to implement more measures to protect young Scouts at the Jamboree, as the scorching heat wave is expected to continue for the time being, while the event will continue through Aug. 12.

The British government also said it is closely monitoring the situation at the Jamboree site to ensure the safety of its citizens.

"Consular officials are on site to support attendees as planned and in line with standard practice for such events," a spokesman of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said. "We are in regular contact with both Scouts U.K. and the Korean authorities to ensure the safety of British nationals."

Choi said the Organizing Committee will secure 30 more doctors and 60 more nurses to deal with a possible increase in patients.

"We have already scaled back or suspended outdoor activities, converting most of them into indoor activities to prevent heat-related illnesses," he said.

The committee also vowed to shorten the interval between shuttles from the current 30 minutes to 15 to 20 minutes to reduce waiting time outside.

Regarding sanitation problems, Lee Ki-soon, the vice minister of gender equality and family, said, during a media briefing, "We will deploy 240 more cleaners to clean toilets and other facilities every hour, and enhance pest control."

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced later in the day that it decided to provide 3 billion won ($2.3 million) to North Jeolla Province so the provincial government can take more steps to protect participants from the heat.