Kim Jong-un Deputy Minister of Culture
“The K-pop concert was a relief pitcher for the 2023 World Scout Jamboree, which continued to cripple.”
It wasn’t a bad word. The 2023 World Scout Jamboree, held on the 1st in Saemangeum, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, was controversial due to poor management from the beginning of the event despite a preparation period of six years. Although Saemangeum is a reclaimed land without shade, measures to prepare for heat waves were insufficient, and essential sanitary facilities such as showers and toilets were insufficient.
Fortunately, the Jamboree, which started with lameness, ended with cheers. The K-pop concert, which was originally scheduled to be held at a special stage in Saemangeum on the 6th, was held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 11th as the venue and schedule were changed due to the heatwave and typhoon. At the concert that day, 43,000 scouts from 153 countries enjoyed K-pop performances. In the live broadcast, youth members excitedly waved their smartphones with the name of their country of origin on the screen when the camera was pointing at them. As if trying to make up for public opinion about the poor operation of the Jamboree, which has become a mockery of people around the world, the concert live camera also showed K-pop singers’ performances and enthusiastic scouts around the world. Realizing the heightened status of K-pop, it was bittersweet, but also fortunate.
The K-pop concert, which was broadcast live for about two hours, featured 19 teams of K-pop singers, including New Jeans, Ive, and NCT Dream. New Jeans was not originally planning to appear, but they adjusted their schedule and stood on stage. Ive also announced his intention not to attend the concert due to a change in the date of the concert, but announced plans to participate in the concert the day before the concert. The K-pop stars greeted members around the world in English before and between songs. Singers who are from English-speaking countries or have lived experience spoke to the crew with fluent English skills. There were also quite a few singers who were not fluent in English but memorized English sentences diligently to greet the members. The singers were not related to the organizing committee or government departments that prepared the Jamboree, but they showed affection by preparing their own words in English for the overseas fans for the stage. Despite the heavy rain, some girl groups performed choreography while wearing high heels, making up for the gap in the competition. It was compared to the irresponsible appearance of the Jamboree Organizing Committee, who asked a Seoul official who inquired about the members’ burden of corona test costs, saying, “As soon as you leave Saemangeum, it is not our responsibility” (Dongbo, page A2 of the 12th).
Ahead of the K-pop concert, Rep. Seong Il-jong, the power of the people, posted on his Facebook page, “The Ministry of National Defense will take all measures to raise the national prestige of the Republic of Korea by participating in the K-pop concert on the 11th by all BTS, who are currently part of the military. I hope,” he said, causing controversy. BTS fans immediately protested, saying, “It’s an authoritarian idea to have BTS take care of the aftermath of the Jamboree.” Foreign media also gave similar evaluations. Reuters and AFP said, “The World Scout Jamboree, which was stained by heat waves and unsanitary conditions, ended with a K-pop concert and an apology.” added
The targets that should have raised national prestige through the Jamboree prepared for six years are not the teenage K-pop stars, but the Organizing Committee, Jeonbuk Province, and related government departments. It is hoped that the amateurish behavior of filling in gaps in international events with stars who are active in the world will no longer be repeated.
Kim Jong-un, deputy director of the Ministry of Culture, [email protected]
