"Jamboree, Where Was the 117.1 Billion Won Spent?" French Media Also Focuses

Le Monde "Korean Jamboree Could Become a Political Storm"
"Curious Why It's Unprepared Despite 117.1 Billion Won Budget"

The '2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree (Jamboree)' event, which raised suspicions of poor conditions, budget waste, and embezzlement, has begun to be covered as a major issue by leading French media.

Danish and Norwegian scout members participating in the Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree visited Hiker Ground in Jung-gu, Seoul, operated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization on the 9th to learn K-pop dance.
[Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

On the 10th (local time), the prominent French daily Le Monde published an article titled "South Korea: Scout Event Turns into Political Scandal" on page 4 of its newspaper.

The media pointed out that "there are increasing doubts about the expenses incurred by the officials who prepared the Jamboree," highlighting that the event is plagued by allegations of public fund embezzlement.

The outlet reported that not only did the scout participants suffer from the heat during the Jamboree, but there were also no adequate cooling facilities or sufficient medical services, along with issues such as food hygiene problems, exposed shower facilities, and mosquito attacks.

It added, "Despite a budget of 117.1 billion KRW being allocated for organizing and operating this event, questions arise as to why preparations were inadequate," mentioning suspicions of overseas trips by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and Jeollabuk-do that appeared to be for leisure purposes.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Previously, five officials from the Jeonbuk Provincial Office went on a 6-night, 8-day business trip to Switzerland and Italy in May 2018 under the pretext of "investigating successful cases of world jamboree hosting." However, controversy arose as these countries had never hosted a jamboree. Additionally, some took a cruise trip under the guise of the jamboree. After the Jamboree hosting was confirmed, public officials from Buan County in Jeonbuk went on two trips under the pretext of "promoting the jamboree hosting site through the establishment of a cruise base port."

Le Monde reported that the ruling party is demanding an audit of the Jamboree budget execution and stated, "The Jamboree, already described by the media as a 'national disgrace,' could turn into a political storm after enduring heatwaves and typhoons."

People Power Party: "Jamboree is a National Scam"... Jeonbuk Provincial Council: "Intent to Make Scapegoats"

On the morning of the 10th, Ecuadorian and Fijian Jamboree Scout members staying at the Youth Center in Gwanchon-myeon, Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk, are enjoying group activities. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the blame game over the Jamboree fiasco is heating up. When the People Power Party criticized the Jamboree event, saying "the irresponsible behavior of Jeonbuk metropolitan and local council members is getting worse," the Jeonbuk Provincial Council strongly opposed the remarks.

Earlier, Lee Min-chan, deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party, pointed out in a statement that "while Jeonbuk Province was filling mudflats to create camping sites and planting trees to build forests to successfully host the Jamboree, staging a 'national scam,' what role did the Jeonbuk Provincial Council play?"

He continued, "If they want to travel, they should first resign from their council positions and travel at their own expense, not with taxpayers' money, as the minimum courtesy to local residents," and warned, "If they persist in political offensives to temporarily evade responsibility for the Jamboree incident, they should realize that the result will inevitably lead to the uselessness of local autonomy."

In response, the Jeonbuk Provincial Council issued a statement saying, "We even suspect that the People Power Party is blatantly revealing their intention to drag Jeonbuk local council members into the Jamboree responsibility dispute and make them scapegoats."

The council explained, "In December last year, Jeonju Young, chairman of the Jeonbuk Provincial Council, conveyed concerns and issues regarding the Jamboree preparation process to President Yoon Suk-yeol at the Korea Association of City and Provincial Councils chairpersons' dinner and requested attention and support," adding, "At that meeting, the president instructed the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and others to prepare the event without any setbacks."

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