"Kids, Adults Are Sorry"... Gunsan Citizens Delivering Ice Water Filled Bottles

Local residents stepped up to help participants of the ‘2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree,’ where some delegates withdrew due to the heatwave and heat-related illnesses.

According to Gunsan Story, a Facebook community in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, citizens near the event site in Gunsan City engaged in support activities such as donating beverages. They even used a frozen crab freezer to supply ice water.

Ice water and ion drinks prepared by members of 'Gunsan Story'. [Captured from Gunsan Story Facebook]

Since the 4th, Gunsan citizens have been operating the ‘Jamboree Gunsan Well,’ providing about 10,000 bottles of drinks and water to the scouts participating in the event.

In Gunsan, the ‘Gunsan Well’ project, which offers free bottled water to anyone, has been running since 2017.

Started through the solidarity of citizens, Gunsan Well provides cool bottled water to residents exhausted by the heat from late June to August every year. The cost of purchasing the water is covered by citizens’ donations, and all deliveries, made once a week, are done by volunteers. These volunteers have also stepped up to support this year’s Jamboree event.

On the 4th, they delivered 1,000 bottles of ice water and 500 bottles of ion drinks to the Jamboree campsite in Buan Saemangeum, and from the 5th to the 10th (excluding the 6th), they plan to deliver a total of 9,500 bottles?1,000 bottles of ice water and 600 bottles of ion drinks daily.

Citizens of Gunsan delivering ice water to Jamboree participants.
[Photo by Gunsan Story Facebook]

Fundraising by local residents also continued. As of the previous day, a total of 9.75 million KRW had been raised, and a local restaurant provided a freezer to store the beverages.

A total of 164 participants, including small business owners and individuals in Gunsan City, took part in this project, and local citizens voluntarily helped with water delivery and distribution on-site.

Gunsan Story stated on Facebook, “These guests have come to our homes, and even if we don’t have much to offer, we want to send them off full. We aim to provide chilled bottled water and ion drinks so that the children can leave with only good memories and fun experiences,” explaining the purpose of operating Gunsan Well.

Besides Gunsan, social organizations in Buan, Jeollabuk-do, such as the Buan County Parents’ Association and members of Haseo Elementary School in Buan County, secured and delivered 40,000 bottles of ice water on the 4th.

Scout members are cooling off from the heat in the Delta area of the Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, various issues continue to arise related to the Jamboree event. On this day, allegations surfaced regarding a sexual crime occurring within the Jamboree grounds.

Kim Tae-yeon, captain of the Jeonbuk Federation Scout Unit 900, told reporters at the on-site press center, “On the 2nd, a Thai male leader estimated to be in his 30s or 40s entered the women’s shower room within the site and was caught, with about 100 witnesses.”

Regarding this, Kim Hyun-sook, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, stated on the 6th, “I was informed that it was a very minor incident.”