World Scout Jamboree in South Korea Faces Calls for Cancellation as US and UK Contingents Pull Out Early
BUAN, South Korea – The 25th World Scout Jamboree in South Korea is facing calls for cancellation after large contingents from the United States and Britain decided to pull out a week early due to extreme heat and weather conditions. This latest development is a significant blow to the organizers and the South Korean government, which had recently promised additional measures to ensure the safety and well-being of participants.
Temperatures in Saemangeum, near the city of Buan on South Korea’s west coast, have soared to 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit), where 39,000 participants, mostly scouts aged 14-18, have been camping since Friday. The extreme weather conditions have prompted concerns about the health and safety of the participants.
According to an email reviewed by Reuters, the US contingent will participate in a jamboree program on Saturday before relocating to the U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys near the jamboree site on Sunday. The email, sent to parents by the U.S. group’s media team, stated, “The US Contingent to the World Scout Jamboree has made the difficult decision that we will be departing the 25th World Scout Jamboree site early because of ongoing extreme weather and resulting conditions at the jamboree site.”
Similarly, the largest grouping at the jamboree, the British scouts, announced on Friday that they would be moving to hotels in Seoul for the remainder of their stay to alleviate pressure on the site. Witnesses reported seeing British scouts leaving the campsite in Buan on Saturday morning.
In response to the situation, the World Organization of the Scout Movement released a statement on Friday, urging the Korean Scout Association to consider “alternative options to end the event earlier than scheduled and support the participants until they depart for their home countries.” Organizers are set to meet on Saturday to discuss whether to continue, cancel, or scale back the event, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
The extreme heat has taken a toll on participants, with hundreds falling ill and receiving treatment for heat-related ailments. Concerns from parents about the safety of their children have also been raised. As of Friday, more than 150 countries were participating in the jamboree, which is scheduled to run until August 12.
Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Additional Reporting by Minwoo Park; Editing by Tom Hogue and William Mallard
