"I'm a fan of NewJeans, can I please have a scout uniform?"... From Jamboree K-pop Concert to Controversies about Disguised Entry

  

On the 8th, the red carpet event for the '2022 The Fact Music Awards (TMA)' was held at the Olympic Park K-Sports Dome in Bangi-dong, Seoul. The girl group NewJeans strikes a pose. October 8, 2022 / dreamer@osen.co.kr

K-pop artists are rallying to rescue 'Jamboree,' which has sparked anger among parents around the world. Can K-pop artists reverse the worst public sentiment through their performances?

On the 9th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism announced the lineup for the supplementary event 'K-pop Super Live' (referred to as the Jamboree K-pop Concert) of the '2023 Saemankeum World Scout Jamboree,' which will be held at 7 p.m. on the 11th at the Seoul Sangam World Cup Stadium.

The 'Jamboree K-pop Concert,' brought up by Representative Sung Il-jong of the ruling party in relation to BTS, is not included. Previously, Representative Sung had urged the Ministry of National Defense to cooperate, stating that BTS should participate in the concert to enhance the nation's reputation. However, criticism followed, and due to practical and physical limitations, BTS's participation was excluded.

The artists who will take the stage at the 'Jamboree K-pop Concert' include New Jeans, NCT DREAM, ITZY, Mamamoo, The Boyz, Shownu & Hyungwon, fromis_9, Zerobase1, Kang Daniel, Kwon Eun-bi, Jo Yu-ri, P1Harmony, KARD, THE BOYZ, ATBO, Psy Circus, Holibang, and LIBERANTE, totaling 18 teams. The MCs are actors Gong Myung and ITZY's Yuna, along with New Jeans' Hyein.

Compared to the original lineup scheduled for the 6th, there have been significant changes. Initially, the lineup was supposed to include IVE, Zerobase1, ENHYPEN, STAYC, P1Harmony, ENHYPEN, BERRY GOOD, Lee Chae-yeon, Nature, ATEEZ, and Psy Circus, but due to an urgent schedule change, the lineup underwent significant changes. The MC lineup, consisting of actor Jang Dong-yoon and STAYC's Sieun and Se-eun, was also completely changed.

The '2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree' is currently in a crisis situation. Due to insufficient preparations for the event, there have been cases of heatstroke from the hot weather, insufficient facilities, lack of safety measures, and poor response to sexual crimes, leading to criticism.

The preparation and administrative issues for the 'Jamboree K-pop Concert' have also been ongoing. As the location was urgently secured, proper cooperation requests were difficult to achieve. After initially selecting the Jeonju World Cup Stadium as the venue, it faced backlash from K-League fans. The venue was then changed to the Seoul Sangam World Cup Stadium, but issues like damage to the grass arose.

Particularly, there have been criticisms regarding the lineup of artists. A representative example is the argument put forth by Representative Sung Il-jong, suggesting that some members of BTS, who are currently serving in the military, should be included in the 'Jamboree K-pop Concert' to elevate South Korea's prestige. This suggestion to restore BTS's image has resulted in significant backlash.

Due to the mishaps and administrative issues, South Korea's image has plummeted. Overseas parents who sent their children to the '2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree' expressed their anger in interviews with local media, demanding, "The organizing committee has not met the basic demands of scouts, such as sufficient food and cool indoor spaces," and "We hope the South Korean government apologizes to the world."

While the 'Jamboree K-pop Concert' is progressing amidst challenges, there is already another controversy emerging online. Some netizens are seeking to disguise themselves by obtaining Jamboree scout uniforms to attend the concert. In fact, in online marketplaces, it is not difficult to find posts titled 'Looking to Buy Jamboree Scout Uniforms.' These posts are being shared in online communities, along with opinions suggesting, "Since they can disguise themselves with scout uniforms and attend the concert, stricter enforcement is necessary."

Due to insufficient preparations, mishaps, and administrative issues, the '2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree' has lost its credibility. Amidst the uproar caused even among domestic citizens, as the 'Jamboree K-pop Concert' unfolds, concerns are growing that despite K-pop artists stepping in as saviors to restore South Korea's pride, they might once again be shamed due to the actions of certain fans.