Who loves to go car camping? Taean has options you will love. Pack up the car and head to the countryside.
Car Camping Facilities in Korea
Camping in Korea may look different from camping where you come from. For example, I grew up survivalist camping which is the complete opposite of the camping here. In Korea campsites ma:
- Public showers (a giant open room with showerheads all around) that may only be open during the summer season. That means it closed at the end of August.
- Trough sinks for washing up dishes (put food waste in the food waste bags and not the sinks)
- Public bathrooms that are open year-round
- Plenty of parking
- Sites with electricity run to them so that you can bring your TV, fan, etc.
- Areas for BBQ-ing. The BBQ situation is different with each site.
How Much is Car Camping in Korea?
There is no standard price for car camping sites in Korea but they often start at 20,000 -80,000 a night and then go up from there. Here are the different items that may impact the cost of your stay:
- Will you camp only for the day or will you stay overnight? Many people in Korea choose to camp only for the day. At 5pm, many people will pack up everything and return home.
- How many tents do you have and how big are the tents? They don’t really charge by individual camping space, they charge by the number of things you are putting up on that space. You can’t all share one camping space to save money and if you put up a massive tent you will likely be charged more than a small tent.
- You may also be charged differently if you came by scooter, bike, or car.
- You may be charged different prices during different seasons. Some spots only charge in the summer months and in the winter it’s all free but there are no showers.
- The fanciness of the campsite. Some campsites are quite rustic and others have more highly developed facilities.
Is “Wild” Camping Legal in Korea?
Wild camping describes camping where there are no official campsites. There are places where this is done. You will often see people camping in non-camping areas. Is it allowed? Maybe and maybe not. In Korea, there is a lot of social grace given to folks. Sometimes folks are just ignoring laws because nobody really cares about those laws.
We recommend checking with 1330 before going wild camping to make sure that it’s acceptable. There are areas of the country where you absolutely can’t do it (think National Parks) and you can get arrested and other areas where laws allow wild camping. However, don’t assume that camping is legal in a spot simply because others are doing it.
Reserving Campsites in South Korea
Some campsites require reservations and others are first come first serve. If you want to know if you need a reservation for a particular campsite you can contact 1330. If you need help making a campsite reservation in Korea you can use a bilingual concierge service.
Campsites that are first come first service also usually require a cash payment so be sure to arrive with at least 80,000 won in cash. This should make sure you have what you need for any incidentals as well.
Car Camping Culture in Korea
Car camping will bring you into a very different cultural space that you may experience in other parts of your life in Korea. Here are some things to know before you go.
- Personal space: Showers are a communal space. The kitchen sinks are a communal space. You may feel nervous or insecure but that may fade once you become accustomed to the situation.
- Community space: You may find that people will walk right through your campsite instead of walking around it. This is not uncommon. This can be hard for western folks who have different concepts of public and private space. Your idea of what is an assumed personal space boundary may be challenged.
- Noise: You will find that folks raise a ruckus until about 10pm. Then it will likely get quiet. Folks are not afraid to be a hot mess until around 10 pm. However, by 11pm or 12pm, you need to be wrapping it up.
- Trash: You need to use the local trash bags and not the ones you bring from home. Usually, your camping fee pays for those bags. If you are camping off-season you need to grab those local bags from a mart or take your trash home with you to toss.
- The whole house… but a tent: Many car camping experts in Korea will bring just about everything you can think of. There are video games, TV sets, fans, and giant tents with multiple rooms. It’s amazing and I am in awe.
- No fires or cooking on the beach: Keep that at your campsite or in approved areas.
- Wear your masks: During social distancing, you need to wear your masks even if you see others not really complying. There are rebels everywhere, that includes Korea at camping sites. Don’t be a rebel, wear your mask.
- Summers are hectic: Expect to pack into the camping spots during June and July.
- Hammocks: Some camping sites allow them and others don’t. You will have to check to see what is ok.
We absolutely LOVE the car camping culture in Korea. Our boundaries have shifted and we now camp BECAUSE of all the people around us enjoying life and relaxing together. Before COVID, we used to find camping a great way to meet new people. Now folks keep to themselves more as we wait for everything to normalize.
11 Places for Car Camping in Taean-gun, South Korea
Unimaeika Camping
043-1668-3972
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Attractive, well kept camping area with lots of hiking.
Hangul Address
충남 태안군 소원면 산간이길 158-24
Itaebaek Camping
010-8778-2397
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Tent camping near a beach.
Hangul Address
충남 태안군 소원면 송의로 809-68
Kumbaengi Auto Camping
010-7112-3632
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
A rural, rustic beach camping area.
Hangul Address
충남 태안군 이원면 꾸지나무길 103-10
Cheongsanri Auto Camping
Off the beaten path car camping site.
Hangul Address
충남 태안군 원북면 청산길 279
Komseom Camping
0507-1459-0913
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
A large, nicely developed car camping area.
Hangul Address
충남 태안군 남면 곰섬로 500-17
Mageompo Healing Camping
0507-1441-3999
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
A beautiful, rustic camping site near a lovely beach. Reservations can be made on their website.
Hangul Address
충남 태안군 남면 마검포길 313-30
Mongsan Auto Camping 2
0507-1333-3654
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Beautiful rustic camping area.
Hangul Address
충청남도 태안군 남면 신장리 353-181
Eoeundol Auto Camping
010-3415-3456
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
A nicely developed car camping area near a beautiful sea access. Nicer showers and facilities than many smaller camping areas. 30,000 - 80,000 depending on the situation
Hangul Address
충남 태안군 소원면 모항파도로 398-42
Nangmanae Camping
A rustic countryside beach camping site. No online reservations. First come, first serve. Very few services in this area.
Hangul Address
충남 태안군 소원면 송의로 659-10
Sagae Auto Camping Site
A busy camping site that is best reserved in advance in the on season but easy to get a spot in the off season. Super chill. Views of the sea. In town so it’s easy to get supplies. Has power to some sites. You can book them on Naver but we have always listed winged it. When you arrive just get setup in a space. They will come around and collect payment in cash. It’s 20,000-30,000 per tent depending on if you stay over night.
Hangul Address
충청남도 태안군 근흥면 도황리 1526-171
Cheongpo Beach Camping
010-2909-6036
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Paid camping near the beach. Tight spaces so it might be uncomfortable if you are not used to being close to others.
Hangul Address
충남 태안군 남면 청포대길 63-6
Where Can I Get Camping Equipment
If you live in Pyeongtaek, we have a blog for that! If you don’t live in Pyeongtaek, you can find affordable camping equipment at places like Emart, Homeplus, and Lotte Mart. They usually have big sales at the end of summer. You can also visit more expensive camping gear stores like Camping Trunk.
Join a Group
Want to get more involved with camping in South Korea? Join a community group to make new friends and learn more about the culture of camping in South Korea.
Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.
Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.
Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.
When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.
