Handuksoo: "UK Acting Ambassador Surprised by Korea's Goodwill and Problem-Solving Ability"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo disclosed on SNS the phone conversations he had with ambassadors from various countries during the Saemangeum World Jamboree, which officially ended on the 12th.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is entering the Saemangeum Jamboree Emergency Response Team meeting held on the 9th in the situation room at the Government Seoul Office. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Prime Minister Han stated, "Following the President's orders, I took time between leading the Jamboree Emergency Response Team to call all the ambassadors of countries that left the campsite earlier than others or chose accommodations other than those provided by our government."

He added that the British Scout members, who were the first to withdraw from the Saemangeum campsite, conveyed through Gareth Weir, the Acting British Ambassador to Korea, that they also really wanted to attend the closing ceremony and the K-pop concert.

Prime Minister Han said he gladly accepted this request and introduced that over 4,000 British members scattered across various accommodations took the buses provided by our government to watch the K-pop concert.

He also mentioned, "Acting Ambassador Weir expressed his gratitude, saying, 'Watching this event, I was amazed by the Korean government's goodwill and problem-solving ability.'"

Prime Minister Han also shared details of a phone call with Dharma Tartali, the Swiss Ambassador to Korea. On the 9th, a tourist bus carrying Swiss members collided with a city bus in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, injuring three members and five citizens.

Ambassador Tartali said during the call, "Thank you for the Prime Minister's direct call. All three are minor injuries, and since they are adults, not children, they are recovering easily, receiving treatment, and have been discharged from the hospital and are in transit," Prime Minister Han revealed.

Prime Minister Han also said, "I felt somewhat relieved after confirming that the Hong Kong members who returned home early left following the typhoon evacuation advisory issued by their home country (Hong Kong)."

Ahmed Alhendawi, Secretary-General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, said, "In a situation where the typhoon evacuation had to be carried out urgently, the organization had several shortcomings, but the Korean government understood and cooperated with the organization to almost perfectly execute the large-scale personnel transfer, for which I am truly grateful," Prime Minister Han said.

Prime Minister Han emphasized, "I am well aware that many citizens have been worried. Since the central government began full-scale response on the 4th, the government has done its utmost to ensure that the international community is not disappointed in the Republic of Korea."

In another Facebook post, Prime Minister Han expressed his gratitude to various sectors that helped with the event's progress.

Regarding the closing ceremony and K-pop concert held the previous day at Seoul World Cup Stadium, he wrote, "Someone said it was 'the largest civilian evacuation operation since the 1.4 Retreat,' and if you lined up the buses carrying children from each country in a row, it would stretch 12 km."

Prime Minister Han mentioned the residents of Gunsan and Buan who supplied bottled water, companies that sent sunscreen and toilet paper, and Jeongeup citizens who organized a 'toilet special task force' to clean the restrooms, saying, "They were truly a great help. I sincerely thank them."

He also introduced that when he inspected the toilets at the Saemangeum campsite, he received applause at the staff cafeteria, adding, "I believe the applause was not for me personally but for the Korean people and the Korean government, an applause that understood our hearts."

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