Khanun Typhoon Approaches, 37 Thousand Participants of International Scout Jamboree Evacuated to Seoul and Seven Other Areas

Evacuation of Jambore Pramuka Internasional 2023 participants in South Korea. (Source: WSBureau Inc/NUNO PERESTRELO)

JAKARTA - About 37,000 Scouts participating in the 25th World Scout Jamboree left their camp at Saemangeum for Seoul and seven other areas on Tuesday, four days ahead of schedule, following the fast approaching Typhoon Khanun.

Minister of Home Affairs and Security Lee Sang-min said the government deployed more than 1,000 buses to relocate about 37,000 people from 156 countries.

"Four police helicopters and 273 patrol cars were also deployed for the safe movement of the participants," Lee said during a media briefing, reported by the Korea Times, August 9.

According to the government, the participants were spread over 128 accommodations across the country, including 64 in Gyeonggi Province, 18 in South Chungcheong Province, 17 in Seoul and eight in Incheon.

Most of the places are college dormitories or government and corporate training facilities, such as Yonsei University's Songdo Dormitory, Baekseok University's dormitory in Cheonan and Myongji University's dormitory in Yongin.

One participant from a European country said he had mixed feelings about leaving the camp which was criticized by many for being unprepared in many aspects, including the lack of toilets, showers and cooling facilities amid the heatwave that has hit Ginseng Country.

Evacuation of participants in the 2023 International Scout Jamboree in South Korea. (Source: WSBureau Inc/Jean Pierre POUTEAU)

"I'm glad we went, because of the safety of our participants," he told The Korea Times, asking not to be named.

"But at the same time, it's sad because we didn't have the opportunity to continue our adventure and meet Scouts from other countries. We paid a high price and we waited for four years to come here," he said.

Separately, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stressed, the evacuation from the camp does not mean the suspension of the largest international youth camp, but is part of crisis management measures to protect all participants in advance.

"Companies, the military, and the public have joined hands with the central and local governments to ensure the safety of the event," PM Han told a Cabinet meeting.

"The government will give full effort to the end to finish the event successfully," said PM Han.

Meanwhile, an official at the organizing committee of the 25th International Scout Jamboree said, for the remainder of their stay in Korea, participants will participate in programs prepared by the World Scout Movement Organization, as well as various other cultural programs offered by local governments and other entities.

"We are currently discussing the details with the relevant institutions and will make an announcement as soon as everything is set," the official said.

It is known that the 25th International Scout Jamboree was originally attended by more than 43,000 participants from 159 countries. However, the 1,500-member US delegation and 4,400 British members, along with participants from Singapore, withdrew from the previous camp citing risks posed by the heat wave.

The next International Scout Jamboree will be held in the next four years, with the City of Gdansk, Poland as the host.