The flags of participating nations wave in a sea breeze blowing through Saemangeum, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Saul Latham)

If you are a scout, about to attend the 25th World Scout Jamboree 2023 in Saemangeum in South Korea this August, you must know that Buan’s local community in southwestern Jeollabuk-do Province is busy setting the scene for this major youth and culture event. Under the theme “Draw Your Dream,” the World Scout Jamboree will be held in Saemangeum for 12 days from August 1.

“As it is an event with teenagers from around the world, I hope that Korean teenagers will have a good experience growing into future leaders,” said Noh Sol-lib a member of the PR team for the Organizing Committee of the 25th World Scout Jamboree - Korea 2023. “The event will give participants an opportunity to get to know one another, share experiences, embrace challenges and enjoy adventurous activities.” 

Noh said that they are looking forward to participants coming to Buan with a forward-looking purpose to “draw” their hopes and dreams for the future. 

The region’s natural environment and cultural heritage provide an ideal foundation. “Buan is in a natural setting where the sea, mountains and cultural creation can be harmonized,” she said. “As an area that holds humanity's pioneering spirit and willingness to take on challenges, I think it is the perfect spot to cultivate global leaders through scouting activities. This youth movement is drawing the future of the world in advance.”

In May this year, Buan County was recognized as part of the Jeonbuk West Coast UNESCO Global Geopark. The Jamboree will embrace this geographical heritage throughout the event with planning underway for 14 scout courses, including Buan Jikso Stream and a country forest walk on Byeonsan Peninsula called “Masil-gil” – or “the way to the neighbor’s house” in the local dialect.

One Korean scout who is looking forward to the Jamboree is Song A-hyun, 13, from Jeonju Seosin Middle School. She said that scouting makes her feel fearless. “It’s OK to fail or make a mistake. We can try again and again.”

In 1991, Korea hosted the 17th edition of the scouting event at Seoroksan National Park in the northeast. This time around, some 43,000 teenagers from around 170 countries will flock to a county in the southwest.

“Jamboree is derived from shivaree, a Native American word that means 'pleasant play' and 'pleasant feast,’” said Noh. “Starting with the first Jamboree in 1920, we have traveled around the world for 103 years, and now at our invitation, the world's largest gathering of the best teenagers around will be having fun through games and lovely feasts in Saemangeum, Korea.”

“We will do our best to complete the 2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree by introducing attractive programs that utilize Korea's excellent traditional culture and the pleasant natural settings that are unique to Saemangeum,” she said.

A-hyun sees Saemangeum as an ideal location for the event because of its proximity to nature. Through the event, she hopes to become “respected by everyone” and to share Korean culture – particularly through K-pop – with visiting scouts. As to what she’d like to learn from those visitors: “I’d like to learn a British accent,” she said. “And tea culture.”

Preparations are under way at Saemangeum, site of 25th World Scout Jamboree, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Saul Latham)

Another local scout who will attend the Jamboree is Han Ji-woo, 14, from IriNam Middle School in Jeollabuk-do. She said that she is looking forward to meeting friends from different countries. It is her first time attending the Jamboree, so she is practicing English and Chinese to communicate with foreign friends. "I’m really nervous but excited to make new friends." Also, she said that she is learning how to set up the tent that Jamboree organizers provided last year.

K-pop concerts will form part of the schedule, and other programs will involve high-tech experiences through AR, VR, drones and 3D printers. All of these programs are tied to the 17 sustainable development goals that guide the event, including poverty eradication, quality education, gender equality and climate change response, according to Noh.  

This year’s event is particularly important given the struggles of young people during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noh said. “Even though experiences are more precious than anything else for growing teenagers, it is very sad that, in reality, they could not enjoy life properly during the pandemic.”

“We’ve been through a pandemic like we’ve never experienced before and are still experiencing it, so I think it is time for healing and joy. They’re more desperately needed than ever,” she said.

“We hope that young people around the world will return with beautiful memories and become Buan ambassadors and visit Buan once again with their family and acquaintances,” she said.

“Beyond the walls of religion, race and language, we will create a place of unity.” 

“Because the Saemangeum site sits on reclaimed land, we will tackle the water supply and irrigation, insect control and heat wave issues one by one so that this Jamboree will be one big venue without discrimination and bias, where all participants can create lasting memories,” said Jang Won-geun, the leader of the Organizing Committee’s PR & Communication Team.