Government Responds to Opposition Criticism: "Supporting Jamboree Participants' Accommodation Is a Common Practice at the Event"

After the conclusion of the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree, the government stated that providing accommodation to the participants was in accordance with the event's customs and that no government budget was used for the tourism programs in which the participants were involved.

Image source=Yonhap News

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, co-chairpersons of the Jamboree organizing committee, released a joint press statement on the 13th, explaining, "Reports claiming that the government is using taxpayers' money to support the tourism of Jamboree participants are not true."

Earlier, on the 12th, the Democratic Party criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol's instruction to support accommodation for participants who wished to stay after the Jamboree, stating, "National funds are not to be used like petty cash from the prosecution's special activity expenses."

In response, it was clarified that "government support is limited to providing accommodation, safety, health, hygiene management, ensuring convenience for departure, and transportation for participants who remain in the country for several days after the closing ceremony, according to the flight schedules purchased in advance before the event."

Furthermore, the programs currently attended by the Jamboree participants remaining in Korea include: ▲ paid programs reserved at their own expense before coming to Korea ▲ local government programs operated by the Jamboree organizing committee based on applications received before the event started ▲ promotional programs run by local governments or companies for both domestic and foreign participants.

Additionally, "The government is supporting participants to safely engage in these programs and has not used government funds to cover tourism expenses," the statement said.

Regarding the accommodations where participants are staying after the event, it was explained, "Previous Jamboree organizing committees have allowed participants to stay at the campsite for several days after the closing ceremony. However, in this event, participants evacuated from the campsite to government-provided accommodations to avoid a typhoon."

Accordingly, it was added that accommodation will continue to be provided only to those participants who had already paid for paid programs at their own expense before coming to Korea or who had expressed their intention to stay at the campsite for several days after the closing ceremony until their scheduled departure date for other reasons.

It was emphasized, "This measure considers both the customs of past Jamboree events and the special circumstances of the recent typhoon. It is not unlimited or permanent but a protection measure for participants until their scheduled departure date," and "There is no central government support for participants who choose to stay beyond their scheduled departure date."

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