1 of 3 | South Korea began evacuating 37,000 scouts from the World Scout Jamboree site on Tuesday ahead of a typhoon bearing down on the country. Photo by Yonhap
SEOUL, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- South Korea began evacuating 37,000 scouts and volunteers from the site of the World Scout Jamboree on Tuesday ahead of an approaching typhoon, as organizers look to salvage the final days of an event that has been plagued by scorching temperatures and subpar campground conditions.
Some 1,000 buses were deployed to move the scouts from the Saemangeum campsite in the southwest of the country to eight locations, primarily in the Seoul metropolitan area, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min said at a briefing Tuesday.
The campers will be put up at 128 sites, including university dormitories and government training centers, and Lee said officials would ensure food quality and ample medical facilities -- shortcomings that afflicted the jamboree from the outset.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, the evacuation operation was still in progress, with only 65% of the buses having departed by 4 p.m.
"Although there was a slight delay in the verification process for destinations earlier this morning, the current progress is proceeding smoothly," Lee said.
Despite the closure of its original site, the jamboree will continue until Saturday, with the government outlining a range of cultural outings and events, including a rescheduled K-pop concert that will be held on Friday evening at a soccer stadium in Seoul.
"Until the moment the participants leave, the central and local governments will work together so that you can experience Korea safely and finish your schedule with a happy heart," Lee said.
The jamboree, which kicked off on Aug. 1, was immediately hit by a scorching heatwave that left hundreds suffering from heat-related illnesses. South Korea has been experiencing its hottest summer in years, with temperatures topping 95 degrees at the site.
Typhoon Khanun is forecast to make landfall in South Korea on Thursday morning, bringing heavy rains and winds that could reach more than 90 mph, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. The typhoon killed at least two, injured dozens and caused widespread power outages in southwestern Japan last week.
Ahmad Alhendawi, secretary-general of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, said in a statement Monday that the jamboree has been bedeviled by the worst conditions in a century.
"It is the first time in over 100 years' history of World Scout Jamborees to face such compounded challenges, from untimely floods to an unprecedented heatwave and now a typhoon," he said.
"We will overcome this challenge as we overcame other challenges," Alhendawi added.
South Korean organizers have also come under heavy criticism for a lack of preparation -- starting with the selection of the campsite, a reclaimed tidal flat that has no trees and offers very little natural shade.
A shortage of hospital beds, waterlogged conditions due to previous heavy rains, swarms of mosquitoes and reports of spoiled food added to a litany of woes.
Some of the jamboree's largest contingents, including thousands of U.S. and British scouts, left the campground over the weekend due to safety concerns.
With the scouts moving to their new locations, the government has been working to arrange sightseeing programs and other cultural excursions, including visits to the former presidential Blue House and the National Museum of Korea.
Officials promoted Friday's K-pop concert as a chance to end the event on a high note and perhaps salvage the host country's bruised reputation.
Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon said Tuesday that the performance would be "an emotional finale of the jamboree as more than 40,000 scouts experience the charm and essence of K-culture."
The ministry said the lineup of artists would be announced later, with speculation circulating in local media that big-name acts including NewJeans and Seventeen would appear.
A lawmaker from the ruling People Party Power, Rep. Seong Il-jong, caused a social media stir Tuesday when he urged the country's Defense Ministry to support BTS in appearing at the finale.
Two members of the superstar boy band are fulfilling their mandatory military service, while a third -- Suga -- has just begun his enlistment process.
Last year, the group held a free concert in Busan in support of South Korea's bid to host the World Expo 2023 -- a bid the troubled scout jamboree was meant to enhance.
In a Facebook post, Seong called the jamboree "frustrating and embarrassing" and said that the participation of BTS would leave the scouts with positive memories of South Korea and "enhance the national prestige."
