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South Korea, once defined by neon city lights and packed cafes, has fallen head over heels for the great outdoors. After the COVID-19 pandemic shut down international travel in 2020, Koreans turned to camping as a socially distanced escape. What began as a workaround for lockdowns has become a full-blown lifestyle, with nearly five million Koreans pitching tents, parking camper vans, and booking luxury glamping cabins every year.
How Camping Became a Korean Obsession
Before 2020, camping in Korea was a niche hobby for outdoor enthusiasts and families in their 40s. The pandemic flipped that overnight. The number of annual campers more than doubled, climbing from 3 million pre-pandemic to over 7 million, and Korea's camping market ballooned to a staggering 6.3 trillion won (around 46.5 billion USD) by 2022. Campsite operators nearly tripled, hitting a record 3,600 nationwide. Even after borders reopened, Koreans kept the gear in the trunk and the tents on standby. Camping had become the new weekend ritual.
Top Korean Camping Styles
Korean camping is not a one-size-fits-all activity. Several distinctive styles have emerged, each with its own following:
- Chabak (차박) / Auto Camping: A mashup of cha (car) and bak (stay), chabak means turning your SUV or van into a mobile bedroom. SUVs now make up over 70 percent of Korean car sales, partly thanks to this trend.
- Backpacking (백패킹): The minimalist, hike-in style favored by younger solo campers chasing remote mountain views.
- Glamping: Luxury furnished tents with real beds, heating, private BBQ decks, and sometimes hot tubs. A night can run 200,000 to 300,000 won.
- Ondol Heated Cabins: Traditional Korean underfloor heating built into winter cabins, perfect for snowy camping in Gangwon or Pyeongchang.
Iconic Korean Camping Gear Brands
Korean campers are famously gear-obsessed, and the country has produced some of the world's most coveted outdoor brands. Helinox, founded in Seoul in 2009, redefined ultralight camp furniture and is now a cult favorite from Japan to California. Snow Peak Korea, the local branch of the legendary Japanese brand, dominates the premium tent and cookware space. KOVEA, a Korean original, is the go-to name for portable stoves and lanterns. Buff headwear is standard around every campfire, and Coleman Korea remains a budget-friendly entry point for first-time campers stocking up at E-Mart Traders.
Best Korean Campsites to Visit
Korea's geography means campers can pick mountain valleys, lakeshores, or seaside pine groves all within a few hours of Seoul. Some standout spots include:
- Camp Cair, Gangwon-do: A picturesque riverside auto camping site beloved for its starry skies.
- Garam Camping, Hwacheon: A serene woodland campground famous for crystal-clear streams.
- Forest 33, Pocheon: A boutique glamping retreat near Sanjeong Lake with hot tubs and forest bathing trails.
- Maeul Yangpyeong: A countryside community campsite an easy day trip from Seoul.
- Jeju Aewol Glamping: Ocean view tents on Jeju Island with private decks overlooking the sea.
- Daegwallyeong Meadow Camping: Highland grasslands in Pyeongchang straight out of a Swiss postcard.
Korean Camping Food Culture
Forget hot dogs on a stick. Korean campers take food seriously. The campsite menu starts with samgyeopsal, thick slabs of pork belly grilled on portable burners, wrapped in lettuce with garlic and ssamjang. Bulgogi sizzles on cast iron pans, while marinated galbi waits on the grill. Glamping kitchenettes typically include induction stoves so guests can whip up kimchi jjigae or steam rice in a portable cooker. And of course, no Korean camping trip is complete without a steaming pot of ramyeon eaten outdoors, the noodles always taste better with a mountain breeze.
Korean Camping Etiquette
Korean campers are friendly but follow strict unspoken rules. Loud music and shouting are frowned upon, especially after 10 PM, when most campsites enforce quiet hours. Trash must be sorted and packed out, since recycling rules apply even in the wilderness. Group drinking sessions are common but are kept low-key once nightfall hits. First-time foreign campers are often invited to join nearby groups for grilled meat and soju, refusing politely is fine, but accepting opens the door to one of the best cultural exchanges Korea offers.
How to Book Korean Campsites
The easiest way to plan a trip is through the GoCamping portal run by the Korea Tourism Organization, which lists thousands of certified sites with photos and amenities. The Camping Korea app, in Korean, allows real-time reservations and shows availability across regions. For glamping and private cabins, Naver Booking is the standard, while popular sites like Forest 33 and Jeju Aewol often release rooms a month in advance and sell out in minutes. Weekends in spring and autumn are the toughest to book.
Camping in K-Dramas and Variety Shows
Korean entertainment helped fuel the camping craze. The hit tvN drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha made coastal village life feel cinematic, sending fans to find tents pitched along the East Sea. Variety shows like tvN's Camping Show and the long-running 2 Days & 1 Night regularly feature celebrities setting up camp, cooking ramyeon by the fire, and bonding under the stars. These programs turned camping into aspirational content for millions of viewers, with merchandise tie-ins for Helinox chairs and Snow Peak grills selling out within hours of each episode.
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