South Korean govt denies responsibility for Jamboree disaster last year

Investigators blamed the South Korean government for the nightmarish and disastrous hosting of World Scout Jamboree last year. The government denied being responsible.

From across the world, tens of thousands of scouts aged between 14-18 years were gathered in Saemangeum, near the town of Buan on South Korea's west coast.

However, they evacuated the site due to warnings about the dangers posed by the extreme heat, and other issues with food and medical facilities. The heat was so bad that some children fainted in the 40C heat. They didn't have enough food to eat.

As per a probe, the government apparently ignored the scout group and took the lead role in organising the event.

However, the government said in a statement that it had only played a supporting role to the Korean Scout Association. In fact, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said that it was a supporter of the event, not an organiser.

"It is not true at all that the direct cause of the event's failure is the government's involvement," it said.

According to the ministry, the event was hosted by the Korea Scout Association and the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

The ministry further said that the government only provided financial and event-related support requested by the related organisations.

The investigators also accused the South Korean government of misleading international and national scout organisations intentionally.

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The report said, "In terms of safety, security, safeguarding of young people, medical support, food and dietary requirements, sanitation and hygiene... there were significant challenges and deficiencies, as well as a failure to consistently deliver core services - at the standard promised."

As per the probe, the Korean government apparently obstructed the review into the jamboree. They didn't provide information to the investigators.

"Regrettably, government officials were unable to provide much-needed information, especially on the financial statements relating to the event,"it said.

(With inputs from agencies)