Controversy Over Reverse Discrimination Against Korean Scouts at Jamboree... Organizing Committee "Accommodation Reallocation Completed"

"No Accommodation Availability, Religious Facilities Placed Unavoidably"

After controversy arose over Korean Scout members living in poorer conditions than foreign members following the early withdrawal from the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree, the organizing committee issued a clarification.

Korean scouts assigned to accommodations at a church in Yongin for the Jamboree [Photo by MBC]

On the 10th, the Jamboree organizing committee stated regarding the controversy over the alleged reverse discrimination in accommodations for Korean participants, "The reallocation of accommodations for Korean participants at the World Jamboree has been completed."

Earlier, on the 8th, due to the impact of Typhoon Khanun, Jamboree participants left the Saemangeum campsite. While foreign participants stayed in hotel-level facilities, Korean participants stayed in poor conditions, sparking controversy over reverse discrimination.

According to multiple media reports, 370 Korean participants who left the campsite were placed in a church in Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province. They had to sleep on the auditorium floor with only mats, and it was confirmed that the church did not have shower facilities.

In response, the organizing committee explained, "Although the principle was to avoid religious facilities when allocating accommodations, due to a lack of available lodging during the placement of Korean participants, it was unavoidable to assign them to a religious facility."

They added, "Subsequently, for participants who wished to move accommodations, reallocation was completed through vehicle support from the night of the 8th to the 9th," and stated, "We will take further measures to ensure there are no inconveniences in lodging going forward."

Following the accommodation reallocation, about 30% of the participants moved to Yangpyeong. The remaining participants continue their activities by visiting Everland Caribbean Bay in Yongin and participating in programs provided by the church.

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