Ambulance Called 'Jimcha' During Jamboree Withdrawal... Police Investigate Following Citizen Complaint

During the Withdrawal of Vietnamese Troops, 6 Ambulances Used to Transport Equipment
Union: "A Dangerous Act Endangering the Lives of the People"
Fire Authorities Explain: "Safety Management Due to Risk"

Controversy arose after it was reported that an ambulance was used as a luggage vehicle while scouts who participated in the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree were withdrawing from their accommodation. Following this, a citizen filed a complaint against the fire department, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

The Daejeon Dongbu Police Station announced on the 15th that they have assigned an investigator and begun a related investigation.

The incident came to light after a photo showing a 119 ambulance transporting luggage for Vietnamese Jamboree scouts in front of a university dormitory in Dong-gu, Daejeon, was posted on an online community on the 12th.

As the controversy grew, a citizen filed a complaint with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and also reported the fire department’s commanding officer to the police for violating the Emergency Medical Service Act through the National Police Agency’s online complaint system.

The citizen posted on the online community about the complaint, stating, “I hope the police investigate the fire department commander according to law and principles, and I request the Ministry of Health and Welfare to cancel the vehicle registration of the ambulance in question.”

A paramedic is loading the Jamboree members' luggage into an ambulance in front of a university dormitory in Daejeon. [Image source=Online community capture]

A police official said, “We have secured some evidence related to the case, including closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the situation at the time,” and added, “We plan to investigate the circumstances by summoning the complainant, the accused, and witnesses if necessary, and then determine whether to take legal action.”

The National Public Officials Labor Union Fire Headquarters also expressed strong regret on the 14th through a statement titled “Is a 119 Ambulance a Call Van?”

In the statement, the Public Officials Labor Union Fire Headquarters said, “There was a request from an employee of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to move students’ luggage using a 119 ambulance,” and strongly criticized, “An ambulance should be dispatched for emergency situations, but deploying six ambulances for about 1,400 Jamboree participants assigned to Daejeon is a dangerous act that risks the lives of the public.”

They continued, “Active measures should be established to prevent indiscriminate deployment of ambulances, and responsibility must be clearly assigned to those who abused their authority to mobilize ambulances.”

In response, the Daejeon Fire Headquarters stated, “The luggage was moved purely for safety management reasons.”

The Daejeon Fire Headquarters explained, “The road in front of the dormitory was a one-lane one-way street where stopping was dangerous, and the bus for the scouts was located 300 meters away,” adding, “We judged it was risky for young female students aged 14 to 15 to carry heavy luggage bags while moving in an area where the distinction between sidewalk and roadway was unclear.”

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