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By Lee Nae-chan
In early August, South Korea hosted the World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) 2023 in Saemangeum, bringing together more than 40,000 youth from all over the world. The Jamboree is the culmination of Scouting activities where teenagers challenge the natural environment through outdoor camping activities to build self-confidence and socialize with other Scouts from diverse backgrounds.
This writer, who as a kid had a hard time even making a three-finger Scout salute, remembers attending the Jamboree in 1967, with his grandfather William J. (Tae Whan) Rhee and participating in the Jamboree held at the official campsite (Seosamneung) in 1972.
Rhee worked to rebuild the Scouts in the 1950s when the Korean War broke out. In 1952, he flew to Japan to meet J.S. Wilson the Secretary General of what is now the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), attending a jamboree and secured South Korea's admission to the organization in 1953. In the same year, he became the first Korean to be awarded the Wood Badge at Gilwell Park on the outskirts of London and introduced the system to Korea. Seosamneung was the result of his efforts to bring the British camping experience to Korea with the support of funding from the Asian Foundation and a free lease from the government.
In 1956, he led a group to the U.S., opening the door to international exchange programs. While staying at the home of Harry J. Thorsen, Jr., founder of the Scouting International Philatelic Organization, he designed stamps to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, which were issued in Korea the following year. The format of letters at the time to the President and the Chief Post Commissioner requesting cooperation became the model for the subsequent worldwide distribution of Scout stamps.
His love of the Scouting life was deeply rooted in a heartbreaking childhood experience. He was educated in the U.S., in exile from Korea via China, following the same track as his father who had devoted his whole life to the anti-Japanese colonialization independence movement. One day he saw a Scout activity at school and asked his teacher if he could join but was refused because he was not a U.S. citizen. Instead, he was given a tent to try out. He spent the night in tears, vowing to rebuild the Scouts once his country was restored.
With vivid memories of childhood and my grandfather's achievements, I looked forward to the WSJ 2023 with excitement but many problems with the inexperienced management of the event have been revealed, and I feel sorry for the Scouts who have eagerly awaited the opening from years before.
An early cause of the problem was the choice of reclaimed land, which does not drain properly in rainy conditions, resulting in massive submerged areas and resulting bug infestation. Mismanagement also led to the lack of shade, unhygienic sanitation and poor shower facilities, inadequate water and food supplies, and initially exorbitant prices at stores. It is also a mystery why there was so little cooperation from businesses and society from the start. To make matters worse the typhoon closed the camps and scattered the scouts across the country.
However, it may be some consolation that the central and local governments stepped in to manage the event and offer community outreach programs. Companies volunteered support and religious organizations and universities offered accommodation. The K-pop concert at the closing ceremony must have brought some comfort to the heat-weary Scouts.
The Korean government has launched a thorough investigation into the problems with the WSJ 2023. The WOSM and its member associations should take this case as a model for future stable hosting of Jamborees, especially in response to the increasing threat of global warming.
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Feeling sorry for the participants, I sent an email to an acquaintance, a Norwegian Scout leader, asking if there was anything that I could do to help those in Korea. He comforted me by mentioning a quote from Sir Robert-Baden Powell: "A Scout smiles and whistles under all circumstances." Upon receiving the mail, the "Jamboree! Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha" song was about to jump out of this author's heart even though it was learned decades ago as a boy.
The writer (nclee@hansung.ac.kr) is professor of economics at Hansung University.
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