Jamboree Sexual Crime Controversy... Victim's Side "Cannot Tolerate Explanation Due to Cultural Differences"

Scout Jo Beom-seok, Jeonbuk Federation Leader, YTN Interview
"On Hunger Strike... Why Should We Suffer?"

The World Scout Jamboree Organizing Committee closed the case regarding the sexual crime allegations that occurred within the Jeonbuk Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree camp, citing "cultural differences," while the victims raised their voices, saying "we cannot tolerate this."

On the 7th, Jo Beom-seok, head of the Jeonbuk Scout Federation, appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' and said, "Even if it is a cultural difference, there must be basic rules, but it is not logically acceptable," raising his voice.

On the 6th, leaders of the Jeonbuk Federation of the Korea Scout Association held a press conference at the 2023 World Scout Jamboree Press Center. These leaders announced that they would leave the camp due to a sexual crime occurring within the camp. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Earlier, the Jeonbuk regional Scouts claimed sexual crime victimization, stating, "A Thai male leader estimated to be in his 30s or 40s entered the women's shower room and was caught, with about 100 witnesses." However, the organizing committee and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family reported that "it was considered minor," and the case was closed with light measures and warnings given to the Thai leader, attributing the incident to 'cultural differences.'

Regarding the Thai leader accused of sexual crime explaining that he "entered to take a shower," Jo said, "There were no shower supplies or towels at all," and "When I caught him, only then did he turn on the showerhead and pretended to wet his head."

Jo said, "In this situation, I am currently alone in the camp engaging in a hunger strike," and "There are about five days left in the Jamboree period, and I will make this fact known."

Regarding the protest withdrawal of the Jeonbuk regional Scouts, he said, "When I made the decision and told the members, I cried a lot," and "The foreign leader who committed the offense is still walking around freely, so why should our members suffer such harm?"

He continued, "When the members left the camp and I was left alone, I cried a lot watching their backs," and "Parents have also called, but they understand, and some parents even said they want to come into the camp and join the protest together," he said. Also, "(Regarding the sexual crime allegations) parents learned about it and about 40 cars near the Jamboree site honked their horns in protest," he added.

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