By Park Hye Ri

President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee on the afternoon of Aug. 2 attended the opening ceremony of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, an estuarine tidal flat in Buan-gun County, Jeollabuk-do Province, presidential spokesperson Lee Do Woon told a news briefing.

Wearing scout uniforms, the presidential couple were greeted by around 43,000 attending scouts after entering the venue.

"As a senior scout, I'm so happy to meet everyone here at Saemangeum," President Yoon said. "My childhood experience as a scout also greatly helped me in life."  

"The spirit of independence, responsibility and service for neighbors and devotion to your country through scout activities will help you grow into remarkable leaders of society," he added. "All of you are full of the spirit of responsibility and service, and when you join forces and achieve solidarity, you can overcome the crises and challenges facing humanity."

"The World Scout Jamboree is a venue for solidarity among youths who dream of a free, peaceful, and prosperous future," he said. "I hope you will become wonderful scouts who pioneer your own futures and reach out to friends and colleagues instead of turning away."

 

President Yoon also gave words of encouragement to on-site voluntary and medical personnel for working hard at the campsite despite the scorching heat.

After his welcoming speech, President Yoon participated in a performance of flying paper airplanes with scouts from around the world to support their dreams and challenges.

In March, the Korea Scout Association appointed him honorary president as the nation's first  head of state to have been a scout.

hrhr@korea.kr