Jeonbuk Province Prepares for Jamboree Heavy Rain, Heatwave, and Pests... Weekly On-Site Inspections

Heavy Rain and Scorching Heat Measures... Strengthening Pest Prevention Program

Total Length of Vine Tunnel 7.4 km... Doubled to Prepare for Heatwave

Jeonbuk Province announced on the 15th that starting in June, it will conduct weekly on-site inspections of preparation status, including measures against heavy rain and scorching heat, as well as pest prevention programs, to ensure a safe and successful World Jamboree.

This year, due to the influence of El Ni?o, heavy rainfall and scorching heat are expected in July and August, so thorough preparations will be made in advance to ensure a safe Jamboree.

Perspective view of a 7.4km vine tunnel to be installed on the Jamboree site loop road.
[Photo by Jeonbuk Province]

During the heavy rains on May 5-6 and 27-28, the Jamboree site was flooded. As a result of a countermeasure meeting with related organizations and experts, it was agreed to divide roles among agencies and install forced drainage facilities.

Accordingly, the province plans to install internal drainage channels at 30m×40m intervals and 100 temporary pump stations across 22 sub-camps. Starting on the 6th, internal drainage channels were installed in 3 sub-camps and 30 temporary pump stations in 8 sub-camps, with completion expected by the end of this month.

Korea Rural Community Corporation is proceeding with more than 80% of the planned maintenance of 18 km of outer drainage channels and forage planting, which began on the 3rd as scheduled.

The organizing committee has secured crushed stone paving for main entrances and exits of toilets and shower rooms in the Delta zone and sub-camps, as well as mobile dredgers, to respond immediately in case of heavy rain.

The province and Korea Rural Community Corporation plan to continuously monitor and improve the drainage facilities through test operations once construction is completed, aiming to prevent flooding damage to the Jamboree site during heavy rains.

Meanwhile, the province is also actively responding to the heatwave. To provide multipurpose rest and exchange spaces, the planned vine tunnel along the Jamboree site’s circular road will be doubled from the original 3.7 km to 7.4 km. Inside the tunnel, a mist spraying facility will be installed by next month, funded by a special grant of 400 million KRW from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, strengthening measures against the scorching heat.

The organizing committee will install 21 large tents and 1,800 tents (5m×5m) to provide shade in each sub-camp, equipped with large fans. Air conditioners will be installed in toilets and shower rooms, among other measures to prepare for the scorching heat.

In addition, to ensure a safe Jamboree, one Jamboree hospital, five clinics, and five emergency medical centers will operate on the Jamboree site, while seven heatwave shelters and 341 indoor relief centers will be designated in nearby areas to respond immediately to any emergency.

Four cooperative hospitals?Gwangdae Hospital, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju Hospital, and Gunsan Medical Center?have been designated to provide comprehensive cooperation, including treatment of severe and emergency patients such as heatstroke cases, supporting the Jamboree medical system’s operation and support.

Maintenance of a total of 18km of drainage channels around the Jamboree site.
[Photo by Jeonbuk Province]

Full efforts will also be made for pest control measures. Since March, the organizing committee, Buan County, and Saemangeum Development Authority have formed a ‘Pest Control Working Group’ to control mosquitoes, wild ticks, and other pests, installing larval control and light traps within the site during June and July.

Larval control will be conducted three times within the site in June and July, and in July, fogging control will be carried out along with the installation of 220 insect traps and 50 light traps. The Environmental Agency will conduct fogging control in the ecological complex adjacent to the site in July.

Buan County installed larval control and 100 light traps at 50 livestock farms neighboring the site in May and is maintaining four nearby streams from May to July.

Additionally, Saemangeum Development Authority and Jeonbuk Development Corporation plan to sponsor personal insect repellents worth approximately 60 million KRW to be distributed to participants.

Hwang Cheol-ho, Director of the Jeonbuk Provincial Autonomous Administration Bureau, said, “We will complete the installation of facilities for heavy rain, heatwave, and pest control before the Jamboree. We will conduct weekly on-site inspections throughout the entire preparation process and make every effort to ensure a safe Jamboree through thorough preparation.”