hankyoreh

Kim Hyun-sook, the minister of gender equality and family, gives a briefing on the withdrawal from the Saemangeum jamboree campsite on Aug. 8. (Yonhap)

The World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, Korea, has all but ended early because of safety concerns surrounding the approach of a powerful typhoon. The process of dispersing the jamboree participants to eight cities and provinces also proved chaotic because of problems with the support system, including the assignment of accommodations. Koreans have been mortified by the government’s repeated bungling of first the jamboree preparations and then its response to various problems that continue to arise.

Korea’s presidential office said Monday that “President Yoon Suk-yeol had been briefed on a typhoon contingency plan for the jamboree and had reviewed the plan.” But when participants started clearing out of the jamboree campsite on Tuesday, it became evident that there had been next to no preparations for their subsequent accommodations and programs.

One university in South Chungcheong Province was abruptly notified that about 800 scouts from the jamboree were about to arrive before the university had even checked on the dormitory status. On top of that, no specific directions were given about room assignments, and no mention was made of how the expenses would be handled.

Another university had set aside rooms for 175 Yemeni scouts and even prepared a buffet meal for them only to be informed late that evening that the scouts in question were not at the jamboree — in fact, they’d never even entered the country.

There has also been pushback from employees at state-run enterprises who have been dragooned into providing support for the jamboree.

The government seems set on going out on a high note with a K-pop concert scheduled for Friday. But the government and the ruling People Power Party seem to view popular musicians and athletes as people who can be mobilized whenever the occasion arises, which is a regressive and embarrassing attitude.

A broadcaster called off a live music television program scheduled for that day and decided send the musicians to the K-pop concert instead. Then Sung Il-jong, a lawmaker with the People Power Party on the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, asked the Defense Ministry to “take all necessary steps for BTS members who are currently doing their military service to perform in the concert and elevate the national prestige.” The remarks ignited outrage from Army (BTS fans) around the world.

These remarks not only look like arm-twisting but also evince complete ignorance of what goes into preparing for a K-pop concert. As policymakers debated whether the concert should be held at Jeonju World Cup Stadium or Seoul World Cup Stadium, sporting events already scheduled for those venues had to be called off.

The government’s slapdash and slipshod flailing in the face of an emergency was visible for everybody to see.

Then Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook, who also serves as co-chair of the jamboree’s organizing committee, boasted on Tuesday that the early closure of the jamboree “could actually showcase Korea’s capability for managing a crisis.” You have to wonder what capability was being showcased by the organizers when they caused this fiasco and then proved so indecisive in the recovery phase.

Serious questions need to be asked about how Korea could have suddenly become so incompetent after receiving global plaudits for successfully hosting the Olympics and the World Cup. But even before that, the government needs to show some sincere contrition for the whole affair.

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