The 25th World Scout Jamboree in SaeManGeum, a Global Youth Festival Set to Kickoff!

- The 25th World Scout Jamboree to be Held in SaeManGeum -

- Over 43,000 scouts from 158 countries participating in the event from August 1 to 12. 

- 174 on- and off-site programs in 57 categories and 30 programs in eight categories linked to cities and counties in Jeollabuk-do.

- Numerous   events and activities to enjoy including K-POP and K-FOOD to elevate Korea’s international profile as a cultural powerhouse among youth worldwide. 

- All aspects of the event will be closely inspected and examined for safety against natural disasters including torrential rainfall and heat wave, food poisoning, and other risk factors. 

- “Safety” remains a top priority with police, firefighters, and medical professionals stationed at the site during the event. 

Only a week before the kickoff of the “25th World Scout Jamboree in SaeManGeum” (hereinafter “the World Jamboree”), the Korean government and the Jamboree Organizing Committee have successfully finished setting up major facilities, such as the campgrounds and infrastructure, and inspected curricular activities and scheduled programs. Now, the World Jamboree is ready to welcome over 43,000 scouts from around the world.  

The World Jamboree is scheduled to take place in Saemangeum and the vicinity of Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do for 12 days from August 1 to 12. More than 43,000 scouts from 158 countries will participate in the event.  

The World Jamboree, also called “the Youth Culture Olympics”, takes place every four years, and will serve as an opportunity for youth from various countries to actively engage in cultural exchanges and build friendships as they camp out in a nature-friendly environment.  

1. The Main Arena, Global Youth Leader Center, and Campground Facilities Already Set Up 

Firstly, infrastructure including the water and sewage system and a temporary wastewater treatment facility and parking lots, and campground facilities, such as restrooms and shower rooms are set up and ready for use.  

Next, the Main Arena where the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the K-POP concert will be held, and Global Youth Leader Center which will house the Jamboree Hospital and the media center are also already set up. 

Jikso river water curriculum area and other curriculum activities areas where all the major programs will be conducted are also ready to welcome scouts.  

Foremost, the Wi-Fi network using 28 GHz* wireless backhaul will allow over 43,000 scouts to experience ultra-high speed wireless internet services of Korea, one of the world’s leading IT powerhouses. 

* Ultra high-speed, high-band 5G wireless Internet service (all VR/ AR, and video streaming are available at ultra-high speed.)

2. 174 On- and Off-site Programs and Special Programs linked to Cities and Counties in Jeollabuk-do

Korea hosts the second World Scout Jamboree this year in 32 years after hosting the same event in Goseong back in 1991. 

As the sixth country to host the World Jamboree twice or more, Korea has emerged as one of the key players in promoting international exchanges among youth. 

What makes the World Jamboree in SaeManGeum unique and differentiated from previous World Jamboree is the 174 on- and off-site programs in 57 categories and various programs linking the event to 14 local cities and counties around the camping ground. 

3. K-CULTURE including K-POP and K-FOOD to be Highlighted

A K-POP concert will be one of the most anticipated events to make the World Jamboree even more exciting for the participating scouts. 

The K-POP concert scheduled for August 6, marked as Culture Day, will feature 11 teams of top K-pop stars including IVE, STAYC, and NMIXX to put K-pop in the limelight for 43,000 scouts. 

Scouts will be able to make and eat some of the most popular K-food dishes, such as tteokbokki and kimchi. 

On Tteokbokki Day, August 2, scouts will cook and eat tteokbokki, and on August 9, they will make kimchi in a program led by a Kimchi-making artisan. 

4. Thorough Preparation to Respond to Natural Disasters and Emergencies

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has drawn up a crisis response plan in cooperation with other government ministries, such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, led by the Government Support Committee chaired by the Prime Minister to ensure that the World Jamboree concludes as one of the safest jamborees.  

(Torrential rainfall) Firstly, drainage pipes in and around the camping ground have been examined and improved, and 100 temporary pumps have been installed at the site to prevent flooding or overflowing. 

(Heatwave) To help scouts cool off and lower their body temperature under the heat in August, shades including the 7.4km vine tunnel and 1,720 shade shelters have been built, and 57 water sprayers have been set up to help scouts lower their body temperature. 

(Transportation) Given that the vast majority of scouts will arrive at the campgrounds via Incheon International Airport, the government has provided transportation to safely shuttle them from the airport to the SaeManGeum venue.   

- 2,150 buses will pick up scouts and carry them to and from Saemangeum based on their times of arrival and departure. 

- “The Traffic & Transportation Control Center” will be set up to monitor traffic and transportation status in real-time and deploy control personnel at major points. In addition, police officers will also be mobilized to ensure safe transportation. 

- The special traffic control plan for the summer vacation season to be in effect from July 25 to August 15 includes measures to cope with potential traffic congestion associated with the World Jamboree and provide assistance for scouts to use traffic information service and highway service areas. 

(Mass crowd management) Special measures are also in place to effectively manage mass crowds and safeguard them from safety accidents, especially when all the scouts gather together at the Main Arena for the opening and closing ceremonies (on August 2 and 11, respectively) and Culture Day (on August 6)

- The area will be divided into multiple sections, which will be allocated to individual country camps, and scouts will be guided to enter and exit the area in order. The control lines will be set up to prevent bottlenecks and control foot traffic, with emergency exits set up in advance. 

- Buffer zones will be created within the area to quickly disperse crowd concentration in this eventuality. A barricade will be installed between the stage and the audience section, and a safety fence will be set up around the audience section.  

- The area will be divided into 16 sections, and more than 500 security staff will be positioned, with police officers to be put on duty at major safety spots. 

5. Police Officers, Firefighters and Medical Professionals to be Stationed to Prioritize Safety 

The 24-hour monitoring and control center (171 member staff* on duty each day) will be run during the entire World Jamboree period to respond to emergencies. 

* 113 for monitoring, 36 police officers, firefighters, weather experts & medical professionals, 22 volunteers

Co-chairman of the 25th World Scout Organizing Committee and Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hyunsook said, “The World Scout Jamboree in SaeManGeum is the largest international event to be held in Korea in the aftermath of COVID-19. The event is a prime opportunity to further enhance the global prominence of K-CULTURE, with K-POP and K-FOOD as the centerpiece and to showcase Korea’s cutting-edge technology and scientific prowess to participating scouts. My fellow government officials and I are fully committed to making every effort to ensure the successful hosting of the World Scout Jamboree in SaeManGeum.”