The article reports on the mishandling and mismanagement surrounding the 2023 World Scout Jamboree held in the Saemangeum area of Jeollabuk-do, which led to its failure. Key points include:
1. The preparation for the Jamboree was inadequate at every stage, as revealed in a report by the Board of Audit and Inspection. Jeollabuk-do selected an unsuitable site without proper assessment, relying merely on visual inspection. The site required land reclamation due to low ground prone to flooding, yet no alternative sites were considered.
2. Development plans for the campsite were falsely reported in official documents. The goal of completing site development by 2019 was based on outdated reports, as the plan had been revised to 2022. The Saemangeum Development Agency falsely claimed to have plans for site development.
3. Organizers failed to adequately prepare for environmental challenges like flooding, heat, and pests. Last-minute solutions such as installing tents were adopted due to budget constraints and inadequate planning.
4. Despite the preparations being insufficient, the organizing committee erroneously assured the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family that there were no problems. The then-minister, Kim Hyun-sook, failed to recognize the issues during her inspections and reported false information to the Cabinet, stating that facility installations were complete when they were not.
5. The situation deteriorated dramatically when extreme heat, insect outbreaks, and a typhoon led to numerous health issues among participants, ultimately causing the event to be halted.
6. Although the failures and misreporting were significant, responsibility was largely placed on lower-level officials. The former minister was not subjected to major accountability measures, as she claimed she was unaware of any issues based on the reports she received. The contrast in accountability measures highlights discrepancies in how responsibilities were assigned during the audit investigation.