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Participants in the 2023 World Scout Jamboree use water faucets on the campgrounds on Aug. 1. (courtesy of the World Organization of the Scout Movement)

“Shocking that they made these exhausted kids stand up and clap for VIPs”

An intense heat wave has resulted in a surge of heat-related illnesses at the World Scout Jamboree, leading to an explosion of complaints. The parent of one participant was outraged, saying, “There is not a single issue that is not problematic, from the heat to the meals, the toilets, and the shower facilities.” Parents of international participants are also taking to social media to vent their frustrations at the event organizers.

The parent of a middle school-aged child who is currently camping at the event, whose surname begins with the letter “K,” expressed his concerns on the MBC radio program “Kim Jun-bae's News in Focus” on Thursday morning.

“My child received a lot of sun exposure on the first day, which led to a high fever, vomiting, and chills," K said. “The heat is the worst part. But, secondly, there was no prior information about how the event was going to proceed, and thirdly, my child said that there are problems with tall weeds, the food, drinks, toilets, and showers and that they are having a hard time.”

The father continued by stating, “The showers are in tents and people can see inside them. Some toilets are co-ed, and some are filthy as they have not been cleaned,” adding, “There is not a single thing that is not a problem. It is a dereliction of duty.”

The World Scout Jamboree, a camping event organized every four years by the World Organization of the Scout Movement, is currently taking place at Saemangeum, a reclaimed tidal flat in Buan County, North Jeolla Province, from Aug.1 to 12. Roughly 43,000 young scouts aged 14-17 from 158 countries are in attendance.

Participants in the 2023 World Scout Jamboree walk on a trail next to a patch of waterlogged mud on Aug. 1. (Yonhap)

The father also highlighted that the participants, who were exhausted from the heat, were not well taken care of during the opening ceremony held the previous evening, which was attended by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee.

“The heat index was 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) yesterday. From what my child told me, all the participants were completely exhausted,” K shared. “Some children even went to the hospital due to dehydration, but the most shocking part was when I saw them asking [those exhausted kids] to stand and applaud when the VIPs entered. I was floored. I was so angry and it made no sense to me."

According to statements on Thursday by the event’s organizing committee, the North Jeolla provincial government, the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency, and the Jeonbuk Fire Service, 139 people at the opening ceremony held the previous day required medical attention, with 108 of them suffering from heat-related illnesses. In a briefing on Wednesday, the organizing committee revealed that “following the opening of the event on Aug. 1, 807 people have complained of headaches at the venue, and 400 of them have been confirmed as suffering from heat-related illnesses.”

K argues that these issues should have been proactively addressed, instead of being retroactively analyzed to determine their causes, adding, “A cool environment and cool water should be provided using electrical means. It would be nice if they at least had fans in the tents.”

President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee arrive at the campgrounds in Saemangeum for the 2023 World Scout Jamboree on Aug.2. (courtesy of the presidential office)

The parents of participants from abroad are also voicing their complaints on the event’s official Facebook page, criticizing the lack of preparation by the organizers. A mother named Kristin Windu, whose son is at the Jamboree, wrote: “[My] son's troop spent their 1st night of Jamboree in a school gym due to delayed arrival. Spending their 2nd night on the ground because they don't have a campsite, tents nor cots or gear. They seem to be in good spirits for now, but I'm heartbroken for his dream to be turning into a nightmare. [. . .] So sad the organizers were not prepared."

Ricardo Viesca, the father of another scout, complained, “My daughter is there [. . .] and she tells us that it is in complete disorganization, that it is terribly hot and there is nowhere to take shelter, and they have not been fed. Groups from Australia and the UK got into a brawl because there were not enough platforms to pitch their tents and they were filled with water and mud. [She also said] that there is little water and it is intensely hot. Please do something!”

Another commenter, Anna Dubanievich, who appears to be a participant, said the situation is “a shame for the whole South Korea."

Even Bear Grylls, a globally recognized adventurer and TV personality, who delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, received complaints from the parents of international participants on his social media. The parent of one scout voiced their anger, “According to my daughter, the campsite is flooded, there are no proper shower facilities, and meals are not served on time. This Jamboree is nothing like what the organizers said, it’s awful.” Korean netizens also shared a video of Bear Grylls sweating profusely during his approximately 15-minute speech and pointed out, “If this is what ultimate survival expert Bear Grylls is like, how do you expect the kids to handle this?”

A participant in the 2023 World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum takes a sip of water amid a heat wave warning in effect in the area. (Yonhap)

By Lee You-jin, staff reporter; Joh Yun-yeong, staff reporter

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