The Self-Imposed Struggle... The Beginning of the 'Jamboree' in London, 1920

British war hero Robert Baden-Powell founded
Jamboree meaning 'fun'
Over a century of history with many incidents and accidents

The controversial start of the 2023 Jeonbuk Saemangeum Jamboree, which has seen a surge in heat-related illnesses due to the heatwave, dates back to 1920 in London, England. It was first held by Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of all Scout activities, and has continued to this day with the participation of youth from dozens of countries.

Founded by British War Hero Robert Baden-Powell

Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron. [Image source=Boy Scouts of America]

Robert Baden-Powell, known as the founder of the so-called 'Scout movement,' served in the British Army in the late 1800s. Stationed in Africa, he became famous as a war hero in his homeland, Britain, for his successful urban defense operations during the Boer War (1899).

Baden-Powell also published a book about his experiences related to military scouting, which became especially popular among teenagers and young adults. Inspired by this, he established the world's first Scout movement, believing it to be a great opportunity to cultivate endurance and leadership in youth.

The Purpose of Conveying 'Life's Purpose and Joy' to Youth

Baron Robert led Boy Scout troops in the early 1900s, organizing camping events in various areas of London. It is known as the first case in the UK where aristocratic and working-class youths socialized together.
[Image source=Boy Scouts of America]

In the early days of Scout activities, some influence of military culture remained. This is likely why Yeom Young-seon, a member of the Jeonbuk Provincial Council from the Democratic Party, claimed on his personal Facebook account on the 3rd that "Jamboree is not a summer retreat but an experience of overcoming hardship through voluntary suffering."

However, the purpose of the Scout movement gradually evolved over time. Baden-Powell lived through the Boer War, World War I, and World War II, witnessing the devastation of many young lives. He later felt a mission that the Scout movement should provide young people with 'life’s purpose and joy.'

The first 'Jamboree' was held under Baden-Powell’s supervision in 1920 at the Olympia Centre in London. Some 8,000 Scouts gathered to camp for several days and enjoy various group events.

Jamboree is a neologism derived from a Native American word that spread to North America, meaning 'joyful.' At the time, it was a very unfamiliar word in Britain, but Baden-Powell reportedly said, "There is no better word than Jamboree for this event."

Since then, the Jamboree has grown into an international event with Scout organizations from dozens of countries participating. Baden-Powell, known as the 'first Scout Chief,' was buried in Kenya, where he had a home during his lifetime.

A History of Over 100 Years... Jamboree Also Marked by Many Incidents and Accidents

On the 3rd, a heat illness patient is receiving treatment at the Jamboree Hospital within the Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree campsite in Buan-gun, Jeonbuk. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Although the event was held to promote friendship and enjoyment among youth worldwide, many incidents and accidents have surrounded the Jamboree. The first Jamboree in London experienced an evacuation due to flooding of the nearby Thames River.

During the 1963 Jamboree held in Greece, a passenger plane carrying 24 Filipino Boy Scouts crashed into the Arabian Sea, resulting in all fatalities. In 2005, at the Jamboree event in Virginia, USA, four adult leaders suffered electric shocks.

This year’s Jamboree saw a surge in heat-related illnesses due to the heatwave. There were also numerous criticisms regarding inadequate cooling measures and sanitation facilities at the Saemangeum venue. Ultimately, Scouts from the UK and the USA withdrew from the event on-site.

The government is making every effort to stabilize the environment at the venue. On the 6th, Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, emphasized at a press conference, "The central government, local governments, military, and private sector are working together to resolve difficulties one by one." A total of 262 cooling buses are operating at the venue to help participants cool down, and 24 shuttle buses run every 10 minutes within the site.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.