- Mayor visits Yonsei University International Campus to inspect conditions and meet with officials –

Incheon did an on-site inspection and met with officials tasked with supporting Scouts who had relocated from the 2023 World Scout Jamboree camp to accommodation facilities in Incheon. 

On August 9, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok visited Yonsei University International Campus, where Jamboree Scouts from Belgium and others were now staying, to inspect dormitories and support the medical staff on standby to help potential patients. 

<Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok met with Jamboree Scouts at Yonsei University International Campus on August 9. > 

The Belgian Ambassador to Korea François Bontemps, Yonsei University International Campus Vice President Lee Jin Woo, and Ghent University President Han Taejun met at Yonsei University to discuss how they expect the Belgian Scouts to spend time in Incheon. They also took a tour of the dormitory to check in with the Scouts. 

<Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok talks with the Belgian Ambassador François Bontemps and Jamboree Scouts at Yonsei University International Campus on August 9.>

Currently, 1,729 Scouts from 28 countries have set up camp inside the Yonsei University International Campus dormitories. The largest contingent, 1,197 Scouts, are from Belgium.

To support Jamboree Scouts, the City formed a dedicated task force (TF) led by the Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs to leverage all of the necessary administrative systems, and focused on organizing immersive cultural and tourism programs while ensuring the safety of all Scouts.

Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok said, “Incheon and Belgium have a special relationship. A large contingent of Belgian soldiers fought for us in the Korean War, and we have established strong ties, especially through Ghent University, over the past few decades. I hope this gives us a chance to work closer together and sustain our cooperative relationship going forward.” The Mayor added, “I hope everyone can wrap up their stay in Korea and return home with some unforgettable memories from Incheon as well as a good overall impression of Korea.”

Belgian Ambassador to Korea François Bontemps said, “I am grateful to Incheon for supporting our Scouts both physically and mentally, and for preparing so many exciting programs. Since Incheon is a ‘smart city,’ I sincerely hope our children from Belgium can see and experience what cities might look like in the future when they get a chance to visit Songdo.”

<Incheon Mayor meets and greets Italian Jamboree Scouts>

Meanwhile, despite the short notice, the Incheon has managed to arrange a wide variety of cultural events, including “Jamboree with Incheon” (K-pop concert) for Jamboree Scouts, a city tour, a field trip to the Memorial Hall for Incheon Landing Operation, mobile theater program, a magic show, and an art show. The City has also lined up eight hospitals within in jurisdiction to open a field medical center to provide the necessary medical support.