'Mismanagement' Jamboree Organizing Committee Disbands 11 Months After Closing Ceremony

World Organization of the Scout Movement also points out 'problems in operation'

The '2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree Organizing Committee,' which sparked controversy during last year's event operations, was disbanded 11 months after the closing ceremony.

According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on the 12th, the committee confirmed its dissolution the day before, converted into a liquidation corporation, and appointed a lawyer who worked at an accounting firm as the liquidator to handle liquidation tasks such as debt collection and repayment. This comes 11 months after the Saemangeum World Jamboree concluded on August 12 last year in Buan-gun, Jeonbuk.

On the 11th, participants are moving to the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo-gu, Seoul, where the closing ceremony of the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree and the K-pop Super Live Concert are being held. Photo by Joint Press Corps

The committee once had more than 100 members, but currently, only five remain?three from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and two hired from the private sector?maintaining the minimum personnel. Choi Chang-haeng, the committee secretary-general who faced criticism for receiving a high salary even after the closing, recently stepped down from his position.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family explained, "Related records will be transferred to the National Archives, and tasks such as cooperating with the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit and follow-up measures after the audit results remain. We also need to respond to a damages lawsuit filed by the company that was responsible for producing event souvenirs."

The Saemangeum Jamboree, attended by about 40,000 World Scout members, was embroiled in controversy due to poor preparation and complacent management amid a heatwave. Subsequently, some countries, including delegations from the United States and the United Kingdom, left early, causing disruptions.

The World Organization of the Scout Movement pointed out flaws in the committee's management in its '25th World Scout Jamboree Report' released last April.

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