Independent investigations have criticized the South Korean government for its role in the disastrous World Scout Jamboree last year, which resulted in the evacuation of thousands of participants due to issues with food and medical facilities. The event, held in August, was plagued with problems from the start, with children fainting in extreme heat and a shortage of essential supplies such as food and medical resources.
The UK contingent withdrew over 4,500 child scouts due to these problems, prompting other countries to follow suit. An independent panel’s report accused the government of deliberately misleading international and national scout organizations about the state of preparations for the event. The report highlighted significant challenges and deficiencies in safety, security, medical support, food, and sanitation. It also criticized the government for taking on the lead organizer role, causing structural and coordination complications that exacerbated the event’s problems.
The Jamboree is described as the world’s largest youth camp, gathering young scouts from around the world every four years. Despite this, many have criticized the South Korean government for its handling of the event last year. However, the government denied these claims, stating that it only played a supporting role to the Scout Association.
