DP criticizes gender minister for not showing up to Jamboree hearing

A plenary meeting of the parliamentary Gender Equality and Family Committee scheduled for Friday to discuss the issues surrounding the recent World Scout Jamboree was disrupted due to the absence of the gender equality minister and PPP lawmakers.

Democratic Party lawmakers attend a parliamentary Gender Equality and Family Committee meeting inquiring into the issues surrounding the recent World Scout Jamboree at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, in the absence of Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook and members of the People Power Party (PPP) on Friday. [NEWS1]

A plenary meeting of the parliamentary Gender Equality and Family Committee scheduled for Friday to discuss the issues surrounding the recent World Scout Jamboree was disrupted due to the absence of the gender equality minister and People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers.

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook did not attend the scheduled parliamentary hearing into the various problems that plagued the Jamboree held at Saemangeum in Buan County, North Jeolla, earlier this month, claiming she had been on standby to appear at the National Assembly but her attendance had not been confirmed. She said this was because there had been no prior agreement on witnesses between the rival parties.

The PPP also didn't participate in the meeting, saying it was difficult to proceed with the session because there had been no agreement with the DP on the witness list.

After waiting for Kim to show up, DP lawmakers eventually went to the waiting room to look for her Friday morning, but she hadn't turned up.

The meeting went ahead at 9:40 a.m., 40 minutes later than originally scheduled, with only DP lawmakers in attendance.

DP lawmakers said that the meeting was based on an agreement between the secretaries of the rival parties and called the PPP and Kim's unilateral notice of absence "irresponsible." They said that the National Assembly had a duty to investigate the Jamboree incident and devise follow-up measures.

Kwon In-sook, DP chairperson of the National Assembly's Gender Equality Committee, issued a request for Kim's immediate attendance in Friday's meeting.

However, Kim didn't appear even after receiving the notice, and the meeting was adjourned at 12:17 p.m. without making any progress.

The 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, initially planned to be hosted on a tidal flat in Buan County, North Jeolla, from Aug. 1 to 12, came under fierce local and international scrutiny over the unsanitary conditions at the campsite, inadequate food and a lack of heat-reducing measures amid a nationwide heat wave. While the campsite situation was eventually improved through the Korean government and companies' support to alleviate the immediate issues, the scouts eventually evacuated from Saemangeum early because of a looming typhoon and were split up to stay in accommodations across the nation for the rest of their stay.

Kim received flak for her ministry's handling of the problems, and she especially came under fire after it was revealed she had stayed in more comfortable, air-conditioned accommodations during the duration of the Jamboree.

This came despite Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's orders for her to remain within the campsite as part of the government's crisis management efforts alongside other ministers in charge.

The PPP, in turn, stressed a need to audit event organizers and find out exactly how they used, for years, the massive funds to host the Jamboree, with a budget of some 117.1 billion won ($89.5 million).

Democratic Party lawmakers of the parliamentary Gender Equality and Family Committee look for Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook who had been expected to attend a hearing on the issues surrounding the World Scout Jamboree at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, Friday. [NEWS1]

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]