S. Korea: Scouts camp nightmare

In South Korea, thousands of scouts recently came together. It was for the scout jamboree, an international festival which happens every four years. But there was one problem after another.

Things started going wrong from the start. There was a heatwave, and the high temperatures made many teenagers sick. It was difficult for doctors to deal with. The site was also short of water. At that point, British and American scouts decided to leave.

There were also problems with dirty toilets, food and huge mosquitoes.

The cost for each scout was £3,500. Often, they were helped by friends and neighbours. So, the event was a disappointment. Nicola Raunig, an Austrian scout leader, was upset for the young people.

Nicola Raunig: "I think it's sad because it feels like the participants, they cannot like enjoy the whole experience and that's why I'm sad because there would have been more they could have participated in."

When the weather forecast said a typhoon was on its way, that was enough. The campsite was closed. The scouts were moved to safe accommodation in Seoul.

"Be prepared" is what the scouts say, but the event was badly planned. South Korean journalists were shocked at the situation. News of the jamboree was in all the newspapers.

Axel Scholl, from Germany, was disappointed for South Korea too.

Axel Scholl: "I feel very very sorry for the Korean nation and the Korean people because I think that they would have loved to present their country, their culture, their community in a more positive way."

View Less