6 Of The Worst Things To Go Wrong At The Disastrous 2023 World Scout Jamboree
The 2023 World Scout Jamboree has quickly become a national disgrace for South Korea, with one after another mishap reported since the event started on August 1. From poor preparations to suspicions of corruption, the event has only invited bad press so far, even amidst the government’s efforts to save face. Now that the event has concluded for this year, here is a look back at six of the worst controversies that earned 2023 World Scout Jamboree the tag of being “cursed.”
1. Safety and Sanitization Problem
The first issue brought to the public’s attention was the lack of infrastructure. Attendees had to set up camp in the middle of the Saemangeum area – a vast, treeless flatland with no natural shade. The ongoing heatwaves in South Korea led to a dangerous situation, with over 400 attendees needing treatment for heat-induced illnesses on the very first day. But no hospitals were nearby to provide enough medical assistance.
Other infrastructural issues included almost see-through shower tents and a lack of lighting in restrooms. An insufficient drainage system at the campsite caused it to turn into a muddy swamp with heavy rainfall, inviting swarms of mosquitos and other bugs.
2. Rotten Food
Many attendees also reported that the food being served was hazardous. Pictures of rotten eggs served at the Jamboree brought in a slew of criticism from netizens. There were also reports of rust and mold being discovered inside the containers where food was stored.
3. Sexual Harassment Allegations
Amidst the ongoing chaos, a report of an alleged sexual harassment incident enraged the public even more. A man from the Thai delegation was reported to have walked into the female shower facility. The man said it was an accident caused by the lack of gender-designated signs near the restrooms. After this incident, all 85 South Korean scouts and leaders withdrew from the jamboree, saying organizers did not do enough to protect women. The organizers later informed that the incident was concluded to be an accident, but the investigation is still underway.
4. Emergency Evacuation And Road Accident
On Tuesday, August 8, everyone at the Saemangeum site was evacuated after South Korean authorities conceded it was no longer safe to run the event given the approaching Typhoon Khanun.
Thousands of participants and volunteers were ferried out of the campsite in a convoy of more than 1,000 buses to other locations in the country. On August 9, one of the buses carrying the Swiss contingent crashed, injuring three members who had to be taken to hospital.
5. Unnecessary Stress On K-Pop Idols
Another source of backlash for this event has been the K-pop Super Concert that was supposed to take place on August 6. It was then rescheduled to August 8, but the concert stage installation process ended up violating multiple safety regulations.
The government also tried to passively pressurize BTS into appearing at the concert to help the country save face, but it ended up causing a massive backlash, both in the country and internationally.
After some more rounds of rescheduling and a controversy of “stealing” performers from another music festival, the concert was finally held on August 11, marking the end of the event. The uncertainty surrounding the concert caused significant pressure on K-Pop idols and their agencies. Multiple insider sources told the media that agencies had no choice but to reschedule their other performances because saying no to a national cause was out of the question.
The dangerous conditions under which the performing K-Pop acts had to rehearse for the concert came under scrutiny. After a video of NewJeans members practicing on a wet stage under a tent surfaced online, fans heavily criticized the lack of safety and empathy for the artists on the organizer’s part.
잼버리 #뉴진스 리허설 pic.twitter.com/s8e560k5ac
— 플래-ㅇ (@peulraeng_) August 11, 2023
6. Unequal Treatment of Participants
Even during the last few days of the World Scout Jamboree, South Korea faced criticism after netizens discovered the massive disparity between the accommodations arranged for foreign participants and Korean participants.
After the participants were relocated to Seoul due to the approaching Typhoon Khanun, around 370 of them reportedly spent the night in an auditorium. While some of the foreign scouts enjoyed 5-star-hotel-like accommodations, Korean scouts were moved to Saeeden Church in the Gyeonggi area. They were each given a towel and a yoga mat to sleep on and crammed into the auditorium.
