Judy here
Let's talk camping. My kids were brought up hiking, camping, and caving. To this day they are still pretty involved in these kinds of activities. Many of my nieces, nephews, and siblings also enjoy outdoor activities.
Well Koreans are no different! However.... their idea of camping is waaaaay different than what my kids and I consider camping. I've enjoyed a number of Kdramas that feature outdoor activities; anything from car camping, to hiking, to camping in tents. The camping in tents is what I want to talk about here.
The first time I saw a 'campsite' on a Kdrama I thought it was a translation error. Surely this large platform with tent and electricity was more a 'glamping' scene than actual camping. But on other shows I've had my eyes opened to what a typical Korean campground might have.
Frequently these campgrounds are very close to urban areas. You can typically see houses and buildings over the next hill. There might be a street and parking lot immediately adjacent to the campground. The actual campsites consists of many separate campsites next to each other; and by separate I mean perhaps 12 feet apart. Oftentimes there is a 10x10 or 12x12 foot wooden platform that accommodates the tent, a shade/rain fly, and a spot to put a grill. It's not unusual to have strings of light -and thus electricity- surrounding the camping platform.
Now I don't want to imply this entire set up is worthy of scorn. I'm sure that Koreans enjoy the opportunity to commune with nature... but this is so different than what my kids mean when they're 'going camping.' (I'm equally certain that there are serious hikers and backpackers in Korea; but they're not being featured in any Kdramas I've seen!)
South Korea is a gorgeous country with a wide variety of scenery. Everything from beaches, to mountains, to rivers, to forests, to quaint villages, and everything in between is available; and it's all within a day's drive or so! I just have to question why they don't want a bit more privacy and elbow room when they decide to go enjoy the Great Outdoors.
Hi Judy;
It certainly was interesting to see the Korean campground in the picture because it showed a very clean orderly site.
Interestingly 'Hiking' is a popular activity in Korea. I'm just guessing that with a smaller country there are less opportunities for isolation and thus the crowds of people aren't as onerous to Koreans as they might be to Americans. Still, the mountains and countryside of Korea are gorgeous so I'm a bit surprised they don't seek out more isolated camping than what is presented in Kdramas.
Wow! I never would have guessed 'camping' would be like that. Just goes to show what different cultures enjoy and, after all, they are getting away from it all and sleeping in a tent. I'll bet a larger age group can enjoy doing this as well.