The Jamboree Concludes, 'It's Your Fault' Dispute Intensifies... Ruling Party Demands "Kim Gwan-young's Attendance," Opposition Calls for "Responsible Reflection"

Blaming 'Previous Government' and 'Current Government' for Disruptions
Ruling Party: "Jeonbuk Governor Should Be Questioned on SOC Budget"
Opposition: "Government Must Admit Lack of Preparation Fault"

As the World Scout Jamboree, which had proceeded amid disruptions, came to an end, the ruling and opposition parties began a full-scale blame game. The People Power Party pointed to the social overhead capital (SOC) budget used by Jeollabuk-do, the host region of the Jamboree, and the local political circles, raising the issue of responsibility of the Moon Jae-in administration. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party criticized the current government's lack of capability in managing international events and demanded a government audit.

On the afternoon of the 14th, the People Power Party held a related countermeasure meeting chaired by Lee Yang-su, the senior deputy floor leader, with secretaries and senior policy experts from the Planning and Finance Committee, Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, Gender Equality and Family Committee, Public Administration and Security Committee, and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. At this meeting, they planned to consider a measure to summon Kim Kwan-young, Governor of Jeollabuk-do, and Kwon Ik-hyun, Mayor of Buan County, to the full session of the Public Administration and Security Committee scheduled for the 16th to conduct inquiries on current issues. The Jamboree falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and a full session of the Gender Equality and Family Committee to address this issue is already scheduled. The People Power Party holds the position that since local governments are partly responsible for this incident, the Public Administration and Security Committee should also address the matter.

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a press conference marking his 100th day in office held at the National Assembly on the 14th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Park Kwang-on, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Lee Man-hee, the People Power Party secretary of the Public Administration and Security Committee, said in a phone interview on the same day, "We have requested the Democratic Party to summon those involved in the Jamboree, but the Democratic Party has not accepted it," adding, "According to the existing agreement, only inquiries about the flood situation were to be made, but currently, the Jamboree is a matter of greater public interest." He continued, "Despite continuous requests since the weekend, the Democratic Party maintains that they cannot summon them," emphasizing, "The People Power Party insists that since the Jamboree disruption relates to local government affairs, those involved must appear before the Public Administration and Security Committee."

The ruling party's reason for holding local governments accountable for the Jamboree disruption is due to the enormous SOC project costs. According to data obtained by Song Eon-seok, the People Power Party secretary of the Budget and Accounts Committee, the direct and indirect project costs used for the 17th Gangwon-do Goseong Jamboree (held in 1991) were confirmed to be 18.8 billion KRW. Considering inflation and currency value differences, this is estimated to be about 51.3 billion KRW in current terms. In contrast, the recent Saemangeum Jamboree used 11 trillion KRW in project costs, including SOC. Major items include the Saemangeum International Airport (807.7 billion KRW) and the Saemangeum-Jeonju Expressway (1.92 trillion KRW), internal east-west and north-south roads (788.6 billion KRW), and the Saemangeum New Port (3.2 trillion KRW), all exempted from preliminary feasibility studies.

On the other hand, the Democratic Party demanded responsible reflection from the current government regarding the event's operation. Park Kwang-on, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the highest-level meeting held at the National Assembly on the same day, "The Jamboree has caused great disappointment among the people," and criticized, "Everyone currently in responsible positions is busy blaming others." Park added, "Our party's co-organizing chairman Kim Yoon-duk also apologized humbly," emphasizing, "The People Power Party should at least acknowledge the government's lack of preparation." He further insisted on conducting a government audit, saying, "I hope they give up attempts to obscure the essence by mobilizing the Board of Audit and Inspection." The Democratic Party also added that they would create a white paper to keep related records.

Kim Han-gyu, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, also said on MBC Radio that day, "Since the event is currently underway, the government naturally bears responsibility, but it is illogical to say that the previous administration should bear all responsibility for the Jamboree without mentioning this at all," and countered, "From an organizational perspective, the ministers of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism serve as co-organizing chairpersons, and the president was also appointed honorary president. While Jeollabuk-do cannot be exempt from responsibility, since it is a national event, the government's responsibility is inevitably greater."

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