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| Workers set up a stage at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Tuesday, for the K-pop concert and closing ceremony for the World Scout Jamboree slated for Friday. Yonhap |
New Jeans, other K-pop artists will make finale of global youth event
By Kwak Yeon-soo
The much-anticipated K-pop concert for the World Scout Jamboree closing ceremony will take place at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Friday, giving participants something to look forward to.
The "K-Pop Super Live" show was originally slated for Aug. 6 at the Jamboree campsite's outdoor stage in Saemangeum, a reclaimed tidal flat in North Jeolla Province. However, due to heat safety concerns, it had been rescheduled initially to Aug. 11 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, about a 50-minute drive away.
Yet, the venue was changed again to the Seoul World Cup Stadium after all participants of the 25th World Scout Jamboree moved from the Saemangeum campsite to eight other cities and provinces ― mostly in the Seoul metropolitan area ― ahead of Typhoon Khanun's arrival. The show will begin at 7 p.m., right after the closing ceremony.
The majority of the original lineup is expected to change to accommodate the new date and venue. While the inclusion of acts such as IVE, NMIXX, VERIVERY and STAYC in the final lineup remains uncertain, others including NewJeans have been confirmed. The complete lineup will be announced at a later date, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
"We regret to tell you that the venue of the K-pop concert has been inevitably changed from Jeonju World Cup Stadium to Seoul World Cup Stadium due to the approaching typhoon. We understand this news may be disappointing, but the K-pop finale concert will mesmerize 40,000 participants and bring them together," Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon said in a statement, Tuesday.
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| K-pop act NewJeans / Courtesy of ADOR |
Meanwhile, the culture ministry vowed to offer various cultural experience programs to Jamboree participants.
The Scouts can experience onsite activities and explore the exhibitions on view at Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential office, and the Seoul Museum of History. In particular, "The Korean War and the South Korea-United States Alliance" and "The Pop Culture We Loved and Rise of the Korean Wave" exhibitions will be eye-catching, according to the ministry.
The National Museum of Korea, National Hangeul Museum and National Folk Museum will offer guided tours in English to enhance participants' interest in Korean culture. Seoul Arts Center will run a modern calligraphy exhibit exclusively for Jamboree participants while the National Gugak Center will host a special concert for the Scouts.
"We will give our full support so participants can feel and experience Korean culture outside Saemangeum. We hope they experience the essence of K-culture and discover the charms of Korea by visiting cultural sites and museums," Park said.
The government has been mobilizing all possible means at its disposal to help the Scouts after it came under fire for inadequate preparation and mismanagement, leading the British, American and Singaporean contingents to leave the campsite to other locations in the country including hotels in Seoul. Over 43,000 participants from 159 countries gathered for this year's Jamboree event.
