Participants from the United States will be leaving the campsite of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Buan, South Korea due to extreme heat and weather conditions. This decision comes after the United Kingdom also decided to pull out of the event. The US Contingent will take part in the jamboree program on Saturday before relocating to U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys near the jamboree site on Sunday.
According to an email obtained by Reuters, the US Contingent stated, “The US Contingent to the World Scout Jamboree has made the difficult decision that we will be departing the 25th World Scout Jamboree site early because of ongoing extreme weather and resulting conditions at the jamboree site.” Temperatures in Saemangeum, near the city of Buan, have reached 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit), where 39,000 participants, mostly aged 14-18, are camping.
The departure of the United States from the event is a setback for the organizers and the South Korean government. In response, the government had planned to send more water trucks, air-conditioned spaces, and medics to support the participants. Scouts from Britain, the largest grouping at the jamboree, have also decided to move to hotels in Seoul for the remainder of their stay to alleviate pressure on the site.
The World Organization of the Scout Movement has requested the Korean Scout Association to consider ending the event earlier than scheduled and to provide support to the participants until they depart for their home countries.
In efforts to ensure the safety of the participants, President Yoon Suk Yeol has approved spending 6 billion won ($4.6 million) to support the jamboree, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has expressed that the government will utilize all available resources for a safe conclusion of the event.
Due to the extreme heat, several participants have fallen ill and received treatment for heat-related ailments, leading to concerns from parents regarding the safety of their children.
As of Friday, more than 150 countries were participating in the jamboree, which is scheduled to run until August 12.
Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Tom Hogue