1. The True Freedom of a $30 One-Touch Tent
Nineteen years ago, camping in Korea was a “spontaneous part of my daily life.” Back then, a 30,000 KRW one-touch tent from E-Mart was all I needed to feel free. Loading it onto a bicycle and heading to any beach—that was the true essence of Korean camping. The romance of being in nature wasn’t about the price tag of the gear.
2. 2026: A Battlefield of “Burden” and “Competition”
However, in 2026, the environment of camping in Korea has shifted into a stressful competition. Since COVID-19, the popularity of the Korean camping market has exploded, but this growth came with a cost. The freedom to leave whenever you want is gone, replaced by a “reservation war.” Finding a quiet spot for camping in Korea has become a luxury in itself.
3. A $2,300 Entry Fee: The Cost of Modern Camping in Korea
Entering the world of camping in Korea now requires significant capital. For a family of four, even a basic setup costs around 3 million KRW. Beyond the gear, the operational cost of camping in Korea is staggering. With site fees reaching up to 100,000 KRW, a single night can cost as much as a 4-star hotel.
[Estimated Expenses for a 4-Person Family / 1 Night]
- Initial Gear Investment: Approx. 3,000,000 KRW
- Site Fee: 60,000 KRW
- Food & Extras: 200,000 KRW
- Gas/Travel: 80,000 KRW
- Fuel (Wood/Kerosene): 20,000 KRW
- Total: Approx. 360,000 KRW per night ($270+)
We are essentially paying a premium to “buy labor” on a tiny plot of land.
4. The Blurred Line Between Labor and Rest: The 1-Night-2-Day Cycle
Check in at 2 PM, sweat while building your “house,” and by the time you’re done, the sun is setting. After a single meal and cleanup, the pressure of shower room closing times and “manner time” (quiet hours) approaches. After rushing to wash the kids and tucking them in, you spend a restless night in the unfamiliar outdoor sounds only to wake up early the next morning.
The luxury of a morning coffee is brief. By 11 AM, you must play a game of “Tetris” again, cramming all that gear back into the car. On the way home, mentally drained, you find yourself asking, “Why did we go through all this trouble?” It’s no coincidence that secondhand markets are flooded with “full sets used only 1-2 times.”
5. Between Addiction and Charm: Why We Still Go
Even after spending 360,000 KRW and returning home physically wrecked, like magic, a week later, I find myself browsing community cafes again.
“The gear was the problem back then.” “If only I had this light, it would be perfect.”
This self-justification leads to redundant investments and new purchases. Eventually, after 2-3 years, you find you’ve spent 10 million KRW on gear alone. Once you find yourself trading in your car just to carry it all, you’ve officially fallen into the “ant-lion pit.”
6. The Future of Camping and a Bitter Discord
The current market is in a transition period, with new brands collapsing under excess inventory and economic recession, and even large corporations struggling. Users complain about high prices but demand high-quality facilities, while operators cannot lower prices due to profitability issues—a persistent discord.
Most of all, I miss the “culture of enjoying discomfort.” Wild camping spots have been closed due to the mess left by car-camping and caravans, and true healing-seekers are retreating deeper into backpacking. I fear that if thoughtless behavior continues, pitching a tent in any mountain or field in Korea might eventually be banned altogether.
Closing: What Does Camping Mean to You?
To me, this activity is a “process of rediscovering the value of home.” I spend 360,000 KRW and endure physical hardship just to realize how cozy my living room is and what a blessing a hot shower in my own bathroom truly is.
Although the market is currently tainted by the label of a “high-end hobby,” I hope we can return to that pure heart we had when we bought our first tent—the simple, quiet rest in nature.
P.S. I’m ending this post with photos from a truly satisfying healing trip I took in the fall of ’25. This is the Jaeogae Campsite, where I could overlook a breathtaking view from a high altitude and feel a quiet sense of peace.
