Jamboree Internal Report Warned of Heatwaves and Typhoons Years Ago

WP "Planned Dense Forest Creation Also Canceled"
Failed to Prepare Despite Knowing Cases of Heat-Related Illnesses in Japan

Several years before the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree was held, internal warnings from the organizers identified heatwaves and typhoons as major risk factors, but foreign media criticized the inadequate preparations for these risks.

On the 9th (local time), the American daily The Washington Post (WP) reported this in an article titled "Ignoring the Red Flags, South Korea Went Ahead with the Scout Jamboree Anyway." WP pointed out that after reviewing past reports from the organizers, extreme weather had been predicted since 2016, and the need for preemptive measures was raised, yet Korean officials failed to prepare accordingly.

The scene of the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree campsite in Buan-gun, Jeonbuk, on the 8th. The scouts had all left the jamboree site the day before.
[Photo by Yeonha News]

According to three reports prepared by government agencies and others from 2016 to 2018, heatwaves were identified as the greatest threat to the successful hosting of the Jamboree, alongside typhoons and military provocations from North Korea.

A feasibility study report conducted by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy at the request of Jeonbuk Province in 2016 stated, "The most important point is that during the 2023 World Jamboree period from August 1 to 12, the Korean Peninsula is expected to experience severe heatwaves and the possibility of natural disasters such as typhoons and heavy rain," and noted that "thorough disaster prevention and response preparations are underway." The 2018 report also diagnosed that "the August event is highly likely to be impacted by 36-degree heatwaves and typhoons."

As a countermeasure, the organizers announced plans to create a "lush green forest" at the event site over five years until 2023, but when the event actually started last week, there was no greenery to be found, which led to many cases of heat-related illnesses, WP pointed out. WP further explained, "The organizers' plan to plant trees was abandoned due to the high concentration of salt in the soil (reclaimed from tidal flats), and heavy rains in July turned the campsite into a mosquito-infested wetland."

WP also reported that the event organizers were aware of the example of the World Jamboree held in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, in 2015. That event took place under harsh conditions of 40 degrees Celsius and 80% humidity, causing thousands of participants to suffer from heatstroke and other difficulties.

Additionally, WP criticized that although the Korean government raised the heatwave crisis alert to the highest "severe" level for the first time in four years on the Jamboree's opening day, August 1, the organizing committee ignored internal manuals and did not designate a heatwave warning that could have led to emergency support or evacuation. Regarding this, disaster management expert Kim Dong-hoon told WP, "The Korean government officially designated heatwaves as a type of natural disaster in 2018, but the authorities failed to establish countermeasures for disaster preparedness," adding, "The authorities still do not perceive heatwaves as a serious threat."

Meanwhile, the British BBC also reported on the same day that the Saemangeum Jamboree faced a total crisis due to heatwaves, approaching typhoons, COVID-19 outbreaks, and sexual crime allegations, noting that concerns had been raised even before the event about the poor natural environment to protect many participants from the heatwave.

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