K-pop concert for Jamboree to take place at Jeonju World Cup Stadium

Yoon orders tour programs for scouts, authorities scramble to offer alternate programs

Tents are pitched at the World Scout Jamboree campsite in Buan, North Jeolla Province. (Yonhap)

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday morning called for tour programs to be offered for participants of the World Scout Jamboree suffering under extreme heat at their campsite in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, but no decision has been made on possible itineraries, according to the Culture Ministry on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a K-pop show originally scheduled for Sunday evening at the World Scout Jamboree campsite’s outdoor stage has been postponed to Aug. 11, the day of the closing ceremony, and will take place at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. The change was made due to safety concerns amid the hot and humid weather, according to organizers.

The new show date and venue were announced by Culture Minister Park Bo-kyun and North Jeolla Province Gov. Kim Kwan-young during a press briefing Sunday afternoon. The venue, about 50 minutes by car from Saemangeum, can accommodate up to 42,000 spectators. Some 88 percent of the seats are covered by the roof. Who will be performing has not yet been decided, according to Park.

On Saturday, Yoon ordered Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min to collaborate with local governments in preparing tour programs to offer World Scout Jamboree participants the chance to explore South Korea's industry, culture, history and nature in areas such as Seoul, Pyeongchang in Gangwon Province, Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province and Busan.

In response, the Busan city government and Busan Tourism Organization said Saturday they intend to prepare a program for approximately 10,000 participants that would include visits to major attractions such as Haeundae Beach and the Taejongdae park.

On July 25, the Busan Tourism Organization promoted the candidate city for the 2030 World Expo to a group of 1,701 Swedish participants and 401 Mexican participants of the Jamboree.

The Seoul city government intends to make use of existing summer festivals throughout the city, such as the ongoing Hangang River Festival.

The North Chungcheong provincial government announced plans to open up training centers, college dormitories and hotels throughout the province to host a six-day program encompassing popular travel destinations such as Cheongju, Boeun, Chungju and Danyang, all in North Chungcheong Province.

Interior Minister Lee said during Sunday's press briefing that the government prepared a total of 90 additional programs with the cooperation of 17 cities and provinces Saturday.

The Culture Ministry declined to discuss tour programs and told The Korea Herald on Sunday that the World Organization of the Scout Movement would need to agree to the plans.

"A meeting was held with the Korea Tourism Organization on Saturday to map out potential tour destinations with necessary infrastructure for the Jamboree participants, but consultations with the ministry in charge (Gender Equality Ministry) and the committee (Organizing Committee for the 25th World Scout Jamboree) are necessary as well," said a Culture Ministry spokesperson. The official said that the cities to be included in the tour programs have not been finalized, nor have the participants planning to join the programs.

The KTO said that it has compiled information on available historical sites and tour courses from local tourism organizations within 200 kilometers of the campsite. The information was shared with the Organizing Committee and the Culture Ministry on Saturday afternoon, according to the state tourism agency.

"We will be holding another meeting later today, with five to six major travel agencies that can efficiently handle the tourism load. This practical meeting will discuss actual routes and the available support from the agencies," a KTO official told The Korea Herald on Sunday morning.

World Scout Jamboree participants cool off in a mountain stream at a Jogye Order Buddhist temple, Saturday (Yonhap)

British Scouts leave the World Scout Jamboree campsite in the Saemangeum reclamation area in North Jeolla Province, Sunday. (Yonhap)

However, travel industry experts expressed concerns that preparing large-scale programs on such short notice could pose difficulties.

"Now is the peak summer vacation season, which means supplying the chartered buses and other large-sized vehicles is of the most critical issue when handling large groups like the Jamboree Scouts," a Busan-based travel agency’s CEO, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Korea Herald.

Meanwhile, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, which operates templestay programs around the country, said it opened up 170 temples starting Saturday for Jamboree participants to use for accommodations and campsites. The Jogye Order said it will provide space upon the Organizing Committee's request, while also offering Scouts templestay opportunities.

Scouts from the UK, the US and Singapore, accounting for some 15 percent of the total Jamboree participants, have so far decided to pull out from the Saemangeum site due to safety concerns. The Jamboree ends Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced Sunday that it will host an exclusive tour program to honor British veterans of the Korean War, for the British Jamboree Scouts. The program is to commence Tuesday with 1,200 participants.

By Kim Hae-yeon(hykim@heraldcorp.com)