The South Korean government has come under fire for its handling of the World Scout Jamboree last year, with investigators placing blame on the government for the disastrous event. Tens of thousands of participants were evacuated from the campsite due to issues with food and medical facilities, leading to a scathing report that criticized the Korean Scout Association and the government for their roles in organizing the event.
Despite these findings, the government has denied responsibility, stating that it only played a supporting role to the Korean Scout Association. The Jamboree, which is described as the world’s largest youth camp, faced numerous challenges from the start, including children fainting in the extreme heat and a lack of basic supplies like saline solution.
The UK contingent withdrew over 4,500 child scouts from the event due to the problems, with other countries following suit. Investigators accused the South Korean government of misleading international and national scout organizations about the state of the preparations, highlighting significant challenges and deficiencies in safety, security, medical support, and more.
The report also criticized the government for taking on a leading role in organizing the event, causing structural and coordination complications. The government’s denial of responsibility has sparked further controversy, with many calling for accountability and transparency in future youth events.