World Scout Jamboree 2023 welcomes 30,000 youths in Korea’s SaeManGeum

[Photo by Yonhap]

The 25th World Scout Jamboree kicked off Tuesday in SaeManGeum in North Jeolla Province, South Korea.

The event, known as the “Youth Cultural Olympics,” brings together young scouts from all over the world to promote cross-cultural understanding and international cooperation.

At the “Scout Jamboree Welcome Center,” throngs of teenagers and leaders from diverse backgrounds, languages, and nations gathered, exemplifying the essence of global unity.

With the rising prominence of Korean culture, including K-pop, scouts from around the world were filled with heightened anticipation for the event hosted in Korea.

Themed “Draw your Dream!” this year’s Scout Jamboree runs until August 12. It boasts a record-breaking participation of 43,000 attendees, including 30,050 youth scouts, 3,496 leaders, and 9,709 support staff from 159 countries.

A plethora of engaging programs awaits the scouts, promoting camaraderie and collaboration among young participants from diverse nations.

On Wednesday, the event will commence with an opening ceremony featuring the “Dream Orchestra,” composed of scout members, and a hybrid online-offline performance where scouts from different countries will collaborate in real-time via large monitors.

August 6, designated as the “Day of Cultural Exchange,” will see scouts sharing their respective traditions, costumes, food, games, and performances, fostering mutual understanding and friendship.

The day will culminate with a K-pop concert for everyone to enjoy. On August 11, the closing ceremony will showcase a sketch video highlighting the scouts’ activities throughout the Jamboree in the country.

The massive Jamboree site in SaeManGeum, covering 8.84 square kilometers, approximately three times the size of Yeouido in Seoul, will be transformed into a gigantic tent city, accommodating over 22,000 tents for scouts from all over the world.

However, the recent heavy rainfall that affected certain areas of the venue posed challenges, resulting in some scouts who arrived the day before the opening unable to set up their tents on time. Consequently, a few scouts had to spend the night at the airport or event buildings.

In addition to the logistical challenges, the scorching weather added another layer of difficulty. With temperatures soaring to 33 degrees Celsius in the province, the local fire department reported 21 cases of heat-related illnesses, including heatstroke and dehydration, among participants, who were promptly taken to hospitals for medical attention.