The World Scout Jamboree is a huge scout event that takes place every 4 years in different countries, often with over 50,000 scouts from all over the world attending. I attended the 25th WSJ in South Korea this Summer, with time in Seoul and at the campsite further down the coast, meeting hundreds of people from all over the world and having an amazing time. You may have heard about the issues that were encountered, including the site not being ready on time, some unsanitary conditions, and incredibly hot and humid weather, which led to the UK Contingent pulling out of the main campsite and returning to Seoul after three days. Despite these problems, the experience truly was incredible, and a memory that I will never forget.
First of all, the people I met were absolutely incredible. From random strangers in Seoul who went out of their way to be kind and welcoming, to scouts from all over the world who all came together for Jamboree, I will never forget the people there. In fact, I still keep up with a handful of people from Norway, Australia and Italy. Despite the problems, it was the people that I met that made the experience, and it is that which I will cherish for the rest of my life. Pictured below are friends I made from Angola and Australia, and it was fascinating to hear their opinions and perspectives on the world. Also, it was an opportunity to practice my broken French, and I’m sure I can speak the language better because of it.
Secondly, my time in Seoul was absolutely incredible. The city is so rich with life and vibrant, with stunning views and a fascinating mix of futuristic technology with tradition and religion. We did many activities that range from visiting towers over 500m tall and watching the sunset over the city, being toured around a museum by robots, and going to a baseball game, to visiting many temples, dressing up in the traditional Hanbok Korean dress, and writing wishes onto lanterns. Although we had an extra 9 days in Seoul that were unintentional, they allowed me and my group to go and experience unforgettable things. A particular highlight was doing karaoke on the last night, and singing my heart out with the group of friends that I have developed over two years, until I had no more voice left to sing with. I’m sure I will return to Seoul down the line and reminisce on all the unforgettable experiences that I had there.
The trip was not without its challenges of course. With temperature at 35 degrees, and humidity making it feel like 45, and mosquitoes everywhere and a typhoon rolling in, this trip has pushed me to my physical limit. Just sleeping in a tent at night required fortitude, and the suncream and bite cream were necessary in large quantities. However, these challenges have definitely taught me to be more resilient as a person, and have made me a better person.
As a teenage boy, of course one of the highlights was the food. I had little experience of Korean cuisine prior to this trip, and it hit me on the first night after eating what was called ‘spicy octopus’ on the menu. We were left in much pain and almost begging for water, however it was delicious nonetheless. My particular favourite was the Korean barbecue, where you cook your own meat on a hotplate, and garnish with kimchi and gochujang sauce – I feel that the UK would benefit from places like these!
Furthermore, the traditions and religions I observed from the multitude of temples we visited made me appreciate Buddhism and Hinduism more than previously, as it was a real privilege to watch prayer happen from inside a silent temple, and the process of removing my shoes to enter these buildings truly made them feel spiritual and special. This was one of the biggest culture shocks: the blend of tradition with the modern city.
On the evening of our first day at the Jamboree site, we were lucky enough to watch the most picturesque sunset over the site, followed by the opening ceremony. After a slight massacre of Bohemian Rhapsody by some K-pop singers, which hurt to watch as a Brit, the ceremony was truly a spectacle, in which I wholeheartedly felt like we were all together in the family of scouting. Bear Grylls made an unexpected appearance, which was pleasing to see, however he looked very sweaty – much as we all were. Fireworks and a huge drone show rounded off the evening, followed by my group doing a conga line back to our campsite to stay together in the throng of everyone.
Looking forward, my friends from the jamboree and I have decided to volunteer as IST (international support team) at the Polish jamboree in 2027, so that we can experience a proper World Scout Jamboree, and also to give back and help the community that we have grown up with. Also, after talking about my experiences to many people, I have highly recommended them to take part in future Jamborees, and also just to raise awareness that this event takes place. The Cubs that I volunteer with as a Young Leader loved the idea of it, with some saying they really wanted to go on a jamboree, and also after showing some of the neckers from other countries that I traded for they were fascinated. Overall, this experience has pushed me to my limit, but I have come back with memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. South Korea is such an incredible country, and one I wish to return to and relive the memories. The motto of the Jamboree was ‘Draw your Dream’, and although it wasn’t the dream I had been looking forward to, it was most definitely an experience of a lifetime.
I would like to say thank you to The Warwick Apprenticing Charities for your support and the generous grant that you gave me that enabled me to attend this incredible event.
