Korea hosts 25th Asia-Pacific Region Scout Conference

The 25th Asia-Pacific Region Scout Conference happening at the Kimdaejung Convention Center from 3-8 November 2015 in Gwanju City shows Korea’s rich experience in hosting world and regional Scouting events giving the Conference a touch of their tradition and a good blend of modernity.

This is just the second time that Korea is hosting an Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conference. The first one was 47 years ago, in 1968, when Korea hosted the 6th Far East Scout Conference in Seoul. Today, Korea Scout Association is one of the strongest Scout associations in the world, having hosted a World Scout Jamboree, a World Scout Conference, and two Regional Scout Conferences.

This regional conference not only covers the whole region but the whole globe as well having over 480 people including participants, delegates, observers, guests and accompanying persons who have registered for the Conference. This includes representatives from 24 National Scout Organizations in the Asia-Pacific Region, guests from potential countries (Timor Leste, Vietnam, Myanmar) and from other regions: USA, Iceland, UK, Sweden, Finland, and Poland.

With this, it only proves that the Scout Movement is a borderless organization.

To mark this historic event, Ms Kim Hui Jeong, Minister of Gender Equality and Family; Dr. Hahm Jong Han, KSA President; João Armando Gonçalves, Chairperson, World Scout Committee; Ms. Jemima Nartey, Vice-Chairperson of the World Scout Committee and Scott Teare, World Organization of the Scout Movement Secretary General were present at the Conference.

Dr John C. H. Nam delivered the keynote speech who said that “growth not only in quantity, but also quality. This is because without quality, no amount of quantity can be guaranteed. I believe that APR has to grow in terms of both quantity and quality.”

“God is now asking us. How do you achieve this? I strongly believe that the answer lies in people, money and innovation.”

He encouraged that the Region continue to nurture talented young leaders, accumulate financial resources by creating the world’s best ideas, and increase the speed and rate of innovation that match the changing needs of our customers.

The evening's opening ceremony ended with a welcome dinner treating everyone with Korea’s unique hospitality.

Other organizations will be present namely ISGF-APR, Habitat for Humanity, World Scout Shop, WWF, and WAGGGS.

Photo credit: Korea Scout Association and World Scout Bureau, Asia-Pacific Support Centre