Controversy Surrounding Free Lodging for Jamboree Organizing Committee of Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree

Lawmaker Lee Eun-joo of the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly
“Free lodging for members of the Jamboree Organizing Committee”

▲ Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook goes to work at the Seoul Government Complex on the morning of the 17th. 2023.8.17 Yonhap News Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hyun-sook claimed that not only Minister Kim, but also all officials from her organizing committee stayed at a nearby accommodation instead of Yeongji during the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree. Controversy is expected to grow even more as it is known that the Ecological Tour Center, operated by the National Park Service, blocked all internet reservations for the general public during the event.

In a press release on the 25th, Lee Eun-joo, a member of the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee, a member of the Justice Party, said, “It was confirmed that a large number of organizing committee officials stayed for free at the National Park Corporation Byeonsan Peninsula Ecological Exploration Center, which is known to have stayed alone by Minister Kim.” He pointed out that the fact that it was written for free contradicts the explanation of the Ministry of Leisure and Leisure, which said, “The accommodation was cheap at around 30,000 won, so we chose the ecological tour operator as our accommodation.”

According to Lee’s confirmation with the National Park Service, the Byeonsan Peninsula Ecological Exploration Center lent 25 out of 31 dormitories to the organizing committee from the 31st of last month to the 12th of this month. The organizing committee shared rooms for 2 people, 3 people, 4 people, 6 people, and 8 people, and it was found that Minister Kim used the 2-person room alone.

▲ On the afternoon of the 23rd, when civil defense training (civil air defense training) was held nationwide in preparation for air raids (Civil Air Defense Training), in which even the general public participated, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook is evacuating to an underground air defense shelter when an air raid warning was issued at the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul. 2023.8.23 Yonhap News Rep. Lee said, “110 people can stay at the Byeonsan Peninsula Ecological Exploration Center a day, but if the organizing committee used 25 places, it is estimated that about 80 to 90 people stayed.” The reservation was blocked,” he insisted.

In response, the National Park Service is known to have replied to Congressman Lee, “The Organizing Committee assigned the room and did not give a list of (guests), so we did not know the specific number of guests staying or the fact that Minister Kim was staying.”

Previously, on the 20th, when the fact that Minister Kim had never camped at the Jamboree Site despite Prime Minister Han Deok-soo’s urgent order to “protect the site” became controversial, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family issued a press release and said, “We reviewed the accommodation, but it is In a situation where they were protected by the police due to threats, concerns were raised that the harm factor would increase, so we did not camp.”

▲ On the 25th, at the general meeting of the Gender Equality and Family Committee of the National Assembly, there is a phrase attached to the seats of the opposition members to jointly investigate the cause of the Jamboree. Members of the People’s Power were absent. Minister of Leisure and Leisure Kim Hyun-sook did not attend. 2023.8.25 Yonhap News

Reporter Choi Jae-heon

2023-08-25 23:30:54
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