Minister apologizes for Jamboree controversy, but says it was not fiasco

Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hyun-sook speaks during an audit of the Gender Equality and Family Committee at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hyun-sook made an apology, Thursday, for controversy over the mismanagement of the 25th World Scout Jamboree that took place in Korea in August.

Yet, she denied criticism that the world’s largest international youth camp event became a fiasco, saying everything was stabilized quickly, though there were difficulties in the early stages.

The minister made the remarks during a parliamentary audit of the Gender Equality and Family Committee where ruling and opposition lawmakers addressed the high-profile controversy over the Jamboree event, among other issues.

“I apologize to the people and young Scouts for causing inconvenience during the Jamboree event,” the minister said.

“It was true that the extreme heat and sanitation problems were raised at an early stage of the event, but government offices and local governments as well as the private sector joined hands and stabilized the event quickly.”

The 12-day quadrennial event kicked off on Aug. 1 in Saemangeum, a reclaimed tidal flat in North Jeolla Province, bringing together around 40,000 young Scouts as well as adult volunteers from more than 150 countries.

But the extent of the poor planning and unpleasant conditions became widely known within its first two days, during which hundreds of participants suffered heat-related illnesses amid the heat wave gripping the country at the time.

Complaints also mounted over shortages of sanitary facilities as well as sanitation problems, resulting in an early departure from the campsite by the U.K. and U.S. delegations as well as the participants from Singapore, citing health risks posed to their young participants.

The remaining participants were later evacuated to various parts of the country due to safety concerns ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Khanun.

Young Scouts avoid the heat at the Delta zone of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, Aug. 3. Yonhap

Minister Kim, who co-chaired the organizing committee, stressed that the event was almost fully stabilized but the decision to evacuate the remaining participants was inevitable as the typhoon was approaching.

“We relocated the Scouts throughout eight regions across the country that were out of the projected path of the typhoon. Then, we did best to operate alternative programs that reflect the Jamboree spirit,” Kim said.

“I think we brought the event to a successful conclusion through the closing ceremony and K-pop concert, as many participants gave positive reviews to the prime minister and me. Some ambassadors of participating countries sent us letters of appreciation, and there were a considerable number of foreign news reports in favor of the event.”

The minister said who should assume the responsibility for the mishandling of the event early on will be clarified when the Board of Audit and Inspection wraps up its ongoing audit.

She also claimed that she had trusted the secretary general and other officials in charge of the event, who kept saying that all preparations were complete.

“Now, I think these were false reports,” she said. This statement is expected to provoke another controversy, as she appeared to be shifting the blame to working-level officials.

Kim expressed her intention to resign to President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sept. 13 amid intense controversy over the Jamboree event, but still maintains the position, as Yoon has yet to accept her resignation following the unexpected withdrawal of Kim Haeng, who was nominated for the ministerial position.

During the parliamentary audit, several opposition lawmakers, including Rep. Yong Hye-in of the minor opposition Basic Income Party, urged the minister to step down immediately.

“Kim returned to the position after submitting her resignation, and is now spoiling the ministry’s programs supporting female victims of various violence as well as the youth,” Yong said.

“She has neither the willingness nor competence to serve as the minister. Stepping down is the first thing she should do now.”