Surging 'Camping Jok'... Save Jeju, the 'Camping Sanctuary'

130,000 People Camp Annually in Jeju, but Only 49 Registered Campsites... Severe Shortage of Camping Locations
Small Business Ombudsman and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Discuss "Revision of Enforcement Decree"
Utilizing National Fishing Port Sites with Facilities Like Restrooms Expected to Boost Fishing Village Tourism

Camping enthusiasts camping on the beach in Jeju Island.
[Photo by Campingholics]

[Jeju=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] "By utilizing national fishing ports that are close to the sea and well-equipped with infrastructure, we can meet the demand for insufficient campgrounds."

Lee Jun-young, CEO of Campingholics, a camping travel startup active in Jeju, proposed this, saying, "As the number of campers increases, campgrounds have become insufficient, and various problems caused by illegal camping have emerged." He requested that campgrounds be included within the scope of facilities for fishing village tourism as defined in the current Enforcement Decree of the Fishing Village and Fishing Port Act.

According to Campingholics on the 19th, the domestic camping population reaches about 10 million, which is approximately 20% of the total population. Among them, the number of campers enjoying camping in Jeju is estimated to be about 130,000. This includes about 100,000 campers, which is 15% of Jeju Island’s population of 680,000, and about 30,000 campers who have come from the mainland choosing Jeju as their camping destination.

CEO Lee explained, "The recent trend among campers is to load camping equipment into their cars on the mainland, take a ferry to Jeju, or rent equipment from rental shops within Jeju and enjoy camping for an average of about a week," adding, "Currently, Jeju residents overwhelmingly make up the majority, but the number of mainland campers visiting Jeju is gradually increasing."

Although the number of campers is increasing, the registered campgrounds in Jeju include 4 recreational forests, 14 private auto camping sites, 3 beach campgrounds, and others such as glamping and caravan campgrounds, totaling about 49. This is far from sufficient to accommodate the annual 130,000 campers.

Lee Jun-young, CEO of Campingholics.

Popular camping spots such as Biyangdo (Udo) and the areas around Hyeopjae and Hamdeok beaches are crowded with campers, but residents who have given up their living spaces are complaining of inconvenience. Due to the lack of camping sites, campers have occupied national fishing port areas where camping is prohibited, and various problems such as trash left behind by campers and safety concerns have arisen, causing headaches for the community.

National fishing ports are equipped with breakwaters, berth facilities, fisheries and port infrastructure, parking lots, and restrooms. Being adjacent to the sea allows for fishing, and campers prefer camping in port areas because they can use restrooms and nearby convenience facilities. However, under the Fishing Village and Fishing Port Act, unauthorized occupation of port areas is prohibited. Therefore, camping and car camping within port areas are strictly illegal.

CEO Lee requested the government, saying, "The key is whether campers can use convenience facilities such as restrooms," and asked for a slight relaxation of regulations to allow the installation of campground facilities within the back area of national fishing ports. He also proposed, "If campgrounds are permitted, fees can be collected from campers to manage the camps, which can prevent various complaints and safety accidents."

In response, the Small and Medium Business Ombudsman announced plans to complete the revision of related laws by the second half of next year in consultation with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the relevant department. Kim So-hye, a specialist at the Small and Medium Business Ombudsman, explained, "According to Article 19 of the Enforcement Decree of the Fishing Village and Fishing Port Act, we received a response from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ Fishing Village and Fishing Port Division that 'rest facilities for tourists such as lodging facilities, bathing facilities, and entertainment facilities' can be installed," adding, "Although it can be judged that camping facilities can be installed under current regulations, we are pushing for a revision of the enforcement decree to establish clear grounds."

CEO Lee said, "If the installation and operation of campground facilities become possible, we can expect the revitalization of fishing village tourism linked with marine tourism and leisure experiences," and added, "We will make Jeju, blessed with a pristine natural environment, a holy land for camping."

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