Kim Hyun-sook Left Jamboree Site to Stay in Newly Built Facility Equipped with Air Conditioning and Shower Room

Accommodation with Air Conditioner and Shower Room
"Affordable at 30,000 KRW per Night" Explanation

The 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree continues to spark controversy even after its conclusion. Kim Hyun-sook, Minister of Gender Equality and Family and co-chair of the Jamboree Organizing Committee, has faced criticism for staying at a national park accommodation despite the Prime Minister's order to remain on-site during the event.

On the 18th, Newsis reported that Minister Kim stayed at the Byeonsanbando Ecological Exploration Center of the Jeonbuk Buan National Park Corporation from the 4th, when the Jamboree began, until the 8th, when the event was cut short due to the landfall of Typhoon Khanun.

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook is explaining the completion of Jamboree preparations and the event operation program at a press conference held on the 25th of last month at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Ecological Exploration Center is a newly constructed building with 30 rooms located 20 minutes from the campsite, which opened in July. Minister Kim stayed in a double room in this building, each room equipped with air conditioning, a restroom, and a shower.

The Exploration Center suspended operations during the peak summer season for the first time since its opening last month, under the pretext of supporting the Jamboree.

The long-standing tradition of Jamboree, where leaders in Scout uniforms share meals and lodging with the scouts at the campsite, was also disregarded.

During this Jamboree, some participants from countries such as the UK and the US withdrew due to the heatwave and poor restroom and washroom facilities. There were numerous cases of heat-related illnesses and criticisms of inadequate event management. Amid this, questions arose about whether the chief organizer, who was at a different location from the scouts, could truly understand their hardships.

On the 3rd, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo personally called Minister Kim and instructed her to "stay on-site until the event ends and ensure the safety of 43,000 participants from 158 countries."

As controversy grew, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family acknowledged that Minister Kim stayed at the national park accommodation. The ministry stated that "the double room where the minister stayed costs about 30,000 won per night, which is relatively inexpensive, and that was the reason for choosing the accommodation."

The Committee for the Protection of the Common People and Livelihoods filed a complaint against Minister Kim for dereliction of duty and obstruction of business related to the poor management of the Jamboree.

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