logo
South Korea probe blames sweeping lapses for World Scout Jamboree debacle

South Korea probe blames sweeping lapses for World Scout Jamboree debacle

Reuters10-04-2025

SEOUL, April 10 (Reuters) - The failure of the World Scout Jamboree hosted by South Korea in 2023 that ended in chaos was the result of a "complete lapse" in all aspects including the incompetence of the organisers and the site selection, a government probe issued on Thursday concluded.
Dire conditions including overflowing trash bins, dirty toilets, questionable food quality and a bug-infested site with little shade from the sun led some national contingents to pull out early from an event that the opposition party called "a national disgrace of epic scale."
The government's Audit Board in a report found a "complete lapse in all aspects of management including lack of competency and awareness of the organisers exacerbated by poor execution of work led to the failure of the Saemangeum Jamboree."
Saemangeum refers to the area of reclaimed land on the country's west coast where more than 40,000 scouts aged 14-18 camped for the event scheduled over 12 days in August 2023.
The event, which was attended by representatives from 155 countries, saw hundreds fall ill amid a heat wave, prompting complaints from parents over the safety of their children.
The organisers closed down the site early ahead of an approaching typhoon, with thousands of teenage scouts taken by buses to accommodation in and around Seoul to view a hastily arranged K-pop concert.
The 542-page report said the organising committee was headed by a retired public servant at the Ministry of Gender who lacked expertise and staffed mostly by personnel without experience working on large international events.
The Ministry of Gender, which was supervising the organisers, failed in its role to oversee preparations and made a false report to the cabinet ahead of the opening that the event was ready, it said.
Facilities including toilets and showers, power and communication equipment and trash disposal were insufficient and inadequate, and the organisers failed to follow up on questions about preparations, it said.
The Ministry of Gender said it accepted the results of the probe and pledged to take any remedial action needed.
The organising committee, which the ministry said was in the process of dissolution, could not be reached for comment.
The Audit Board referred four individuals for criminal investigation and 12 officials for disciplinary action.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

EU to target Nord Stream and Russian oil cap in new sanctions package, FT reports
EU to target Nord Stream and Russian oil cap in new sanctions package, FT reports

Reuters

time3 hours ago

  • Reuters

EU to target Nord Stream and Russian oil cap in new sanctions package, FT reports

June 10 (Reuters) - The European Commission is to propose lowering the Russian oil price cap and banning the use of Nord Stream infrastructure as part of a fresh round of sanctions against Moscow, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. The package will include lowering the existing oil price cap from $60 to $45 per barrel, as well as banning the use of Russian energy infrastructure, including the two Nord Stream pipelines, the report said citing three people familiar with the proposal. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report.

Trump says Iran nuclear talks to resume with Tehran set to offer counter-proposal
Trump says Iran nuclear talks to resume with Tehran set to offer counter-proposal

NBC News

time3 hours ago

  • NBC News

Trump says Iran nuclear talks to resume with Tehran set to offer counter-proposal

Iran said Monday that it will soon hand a counter-proposal for a nuclear deal to the United States in response to a U.S. offer that Tehran deems 'unacceptable,' while U.S. President Donald Trump said talks would continue. Trump made clear that the two sides remained at odds over whether the country would be allowed to continue enriching uranium on Iranian soil. 'They're just asking for things that you can't do. They don't want to give up what they have to give up,' Trump told reporters at the White House. 'They seek enrichment. We can't have enrichment.' Earlier, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran was preparing a counter-offer to the U.S. proposal that was presented in late May. He said there was no detail about the timing of a sixth round of talks. While Trump said the next round of talks would take place Thursday, a senior Iranian official and a U.S. official said Thursday was unlikely. Following Trump's remarks, Baghaei said 'based on recent consultations, the next round of Iran–U.S. indirect negotiations is being planned for next Sunday in Muscat', according to the ministry's Telegram channel. The U.S. official said the talks, led by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, could be Friday or Sunday, possibly in Oman or Oslo. 'The U.S. proposal is not acceptable to us. It was not the result of previous rounds of negotiations. We will present our own proposal to the other side via Oman after it is finalized. This proposal is reasonable, logical, and balanced,' Baghaei said. 'We must ensure before the lifting of sanctions that Iran will effectively benefit economically and that its banking and trade relations with other countries will return to normal.' Reuters previously reported that Tehran was drafting a negative response to the U.S. proposal. An Iranian diplomat said the U.S. offer failed to resolve differences over uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, the shipment abroad of Iran's entire stockpile of highly enriched uranium and reliable steps to lift U.S. sanctions. Last week, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the U.S. proposal as against Iran's interests, pledging to continue enrichment on Iranian soil, which Western powers view as a potential pathway to building nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes. Trump said Iran was the main topic of a phone conversation he had Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu's office said the president had told him talks with Iran would continue at the end of the week. During his first term in 2018, Trump ditched a 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. Iran responded by escalating enrichment far beyond that pact's limits. Iran says the West has turned a blind eye to Israel's nuclear program even while pushing against Iran's. Israel neither confirms nor denies that it has nuclear weapons. Baghaei said sensitive Israeli documents, which Iran has previously promised to unveil, would demonstrate 'that parties constantly questioning Iran's peaceful nuclear program actively work to strengthen Israel's military nuclear program'.

Night of hell for Ukraine as Putin launches 315 drones in one of biggest strikes of war sparking huge inferno in Kyiv
Night of hell for Ukraine as Putin launches 315 drones in one of biggest strikes of war sparking huge inferno in Kyiv

Scottish Sun

time6 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Night of hell for Ukraine as Putin launches 315 drones in one of biggest strikes of war sparking huge inferno in Kyiv

Horror images show the devastation in Ukraine after another night from hell at the hands of the Kremlin UNDER SIEGE Night of hell for Ukraine as Putin launches 315 drones in one of biggest strikes of war sparking huge inferno in Kyiv Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VLADIMIR Putin has killed at least two people in a terrifying drone blitz which tore through a Ukrainian maternity ward. Russia directly attacked Kyiv with 315 drones and missiles and demolished large parts of the southern port of Odesa overnight. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A woman runs past a warehouse which is on fire following Russia's attacks on Kyiv Credit: Reuters 4 An explosion lights up the sky over the capital Credit: Reuters 4 A Russian drone strike on Kyiv left dozens of residential buildings crumbling Credit: AP At least four people have been hospitalised in Kyiv with seven out of the city's 10 districts being impacted. The devastating aerial attacks sparked intense recovery operations as emergency services battled against fires in residential neighbourhoods. Air raid alerts in Kyiv lasted for around five hours as they first alerted residents at around 5am, according to military data. Russia sent out a 315 drone blitz in the attack, including 250 Shaheds, and seven missiles, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. A harrowing image of the capital's skyline shows how it had been engulfed by a cloud of orange from the numerous blasts. As the sun rose in the morning residents complained they 'could not see the dawn' due to the thick black smoke still lingering in the air. Timur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv's military district, said on Telegram: "A difficult night for all of us. "Throughout the night, the enemy relentlessly terrorised Kyiv with attack drones. "They targeted civilian infrastructure and peaceful residents of the city." Russia claimed they had only targeted the Ukrainian Artem plant which is where Kyiv produces air-to-air missiles, air-guided weapons, and anti-tank guided missiles. Zelensky also said large swaths of Odesa, Dnipro region, and Chernihiv were all hit overnight. The heroic leader said the night from hell marked one of the "largest attacks" in the gruelling war to date. In Odesa, a maternity hospital and residential buildings were all completely destroyed. Two were killed at the hands of Putin across the city. Speaking on X, Zelensky said: "In Odesa, even a maternity hospital became a Russian target. "Thirteen people were injured. Tragically, there are fatalities. My condolences to the families. "It is vital that the response to this and other similar Russian attacks is not silence from the world, but concrete action." Ukraine now reportedly faces over 500 drone strikes every night, as Russia appears to have stepped up assaults following operation Spiderweb. Earlier this week, Russian drones and missiles were launched at Kyiv again as Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers were reportedly unleashed to rain hell on the infamous Snake Island in the Black Sea. Moscow launched a massive strike on Rivne using its Tu-22M3 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers to hit Dubny airbase. Another key Ukrainian military airport - Hostomel - was also attacked as Putin sought revenge for the humiliating attack. Polish armed forces command said Nato fighter jets were patrolling due to 'intensive air attack by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian territory'. Just days ago, Kharkiv was rocked overnight as 48 kamikaze drones, along with missiles and guided bombs, slammed into residential areas, according to the city's mayor. 'We have a lot of damage,' Ihor Terekhov said. More than 50 explosions rocked Kharkiv, with the mayor adding it was 'the most powerful attack' on the city of the 39-month war.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store