"Living as Jeong Yak-yong" The Vacation Trend Created by COVID-19

Increasing Number of People Seeking Quiet Getaways Instead of Crowded Famous Tourist Spots
Exile Sites Like Yokjido and Heuksando Gain Popularity

Tongyeong Yokjido Bireong-gil. Photo by Tongyeong City Hall

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] #Ryu Hyesoo (34), an office worker living in Seoul, decided to spend her summer vacation for 3 weeks on Yokjido Island in Tongyeong, Gyeongnam. Yokjido, which means 'an island where people lived a miserable life,' is known as an exile site during the Joseon Dynasty. It is a remote place that requires a 4 hour 30 minute bus ride from Seoul, followed by a 1 hour ferry ride. Ryu said she chose this place as a vacation spot because "since it was used as an exile site in the past, there is no chance of running into people, and I wanted to stay in a thoroughly remote place."

With the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) blocking overseas travel and the overlapping demand to avoid contact between people, more people are choosing 'unique vacation spots.' Instead of famous tourist destinations, more people are staying at quiet accommodations or spending their vacations entirely at home. Meanwhile, many people around are also looking for remote places with no elements of 'tourist spots' at all. The younger generation who search nationwide for 'exile sites' and choose the most remote places, like Ryu, belong to this category.

Places that are spotlighted as exile sites include Heuksando Island, where Dasan Jeong Yak-yong was exiled; Namdo Island in Namhae, where Seo-po Kim Man-jung was exiled; and Yokjido Island in Tongyeong. All require using multiple modes of transportation such as cars, trains, and boats, and the travel time takes more than half a day. However, it is said that these places appeal to young people because they are safe from the risk of COVID-19 infection and can soothe their tired daily lives. Kang Shinhyuk (32), who is planning a trip to Namdo Island in Namhae, said, "I heard that Kim Man-jung, who wrote works like Sassi Namjeonggi, was exiled here, and I chose it as a vacation spot because of the beautiful scenery," adding, "It would be interesting to look around the stories of exile life and the actual places where he lived."

One of the characteristics of this summer vacation is the trend of preferring 'long-term vacations,' which is an extension of the once-popular 'living in Jeju Island for a month.' According to the '2020 Summer Domestic Travel Trends' recently announced by the accommodation reservation platform Yanolja, reservations for stays of 4 nights and 5 days or longer increased by 70% compared to last year. Considering that overall domestic travel reservations increased by only 35% during the same period, it is interpreted that the proportion of long-term travel has greatly expanded.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.