Campervan, RV & Vanlife News

The auto camping site in Yuldong Park in Seongnam, opened last year, is at the centre of a dispute over administrative procedures. Its 96 pitches sit in a park created after land was bought for 264.3 billion won under measures against the expiry of urban parks. The dispute concerns whether the site must register as a campsite under the Tourism Promotion Act and meet area standards in a conservation green zone. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism says no exemption applies to park facilities. The campsite occupies about 2.5% of the 887,516 sq m park.

A parked camper van caught fire in Geumsan county on the evening of 6 November. A man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s suffered second-degree burns and the van was destroyed.

The Haetteul Campsite in Sanyang-eup, Tongyeong, South Korea, occupies about 1000 pyeong and was converted from a farm into a campsite. It has glamping tents, standard tent pitches and a designated area for sleeping in cars. Admission costs 20,000 won per adult, with surcharges for glamping and car camping, and booking is required. Parking holds about 50 vehicles and the site operates all year round. The campsite is listed by the Korea Tourism Organization.

A one-tonne truck converted into a camper van caught fire in Geumsan, South Chungcheong. A man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s suffered second-degree burns.

A parked 1-tonne camper van caught fire on Yamido island in Gunsan at about 16:37 on 6 November. The flames spread to a nearby forest; no one was injured.

A camper van caught fire near Jeokbyeokgang in Geumsan on 6 November. A man in his 80s and his wife in her 70s suffered second-degree burns while trying to put out the flames.

A camper van converted from a 1-tonne truck caught fire near the Jeokbyeokgang river in Geumsan county. A man in his 80s and his wife in her 70s suffered second-degree burns while trying to put out the flames.

Misan Family Auto Camping is located in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, about 15 km from the city centre. The site covers around 20,000 sq m and also operates a pension on its grounds. There is no entrance fee; only accommodation is charged, with prices varying by season and weekends. The car park holds about 50 vehicles, and booking is required. The campsite is open all year and has toilets, showers and a small shop.

The YouTube channel Camping Empire, covering motorhomes, caravans and rural retreats, has reached 700,000 subscribers and 370 million cumulative views. Average daily views exceed 200,000. Founder Kim Yong-seop launched the channel in December 2019 after working as a producer at Korea Economic TV. A video about rural huts published in May 2020 drew 1 million views in a day, and subscribers rose from 100,000 to 300,000 within months. About 80% of the audience are men aged 40 to 60.

In the first half of 2026, motorhome exports from Rongcheng in Shandong province reached 1.06 billion yuan, up 21% year on year. The city accounted for 87.6% of Shandong's total motorhome exports and more than 55% of China's national total. Rongcheng hosts eight large motorhome manufacturers and about 50 component suppliers. It produces self-propelled and towed models, as well as motorhomes for campsites and tent-based use. Local assemblers and partners within a 50 km radius handle the entire production process, from parts supply to final assembly.

A camper van trip from Okayama to Shiga Prefecture took place from 7 to 9 October 2026, using only ordinary roads. The route included stops at a bakery in Nishinomiya, Sakurado Shrine in Otsu and a hike to Sorakanade Terrace above Lake Biwa. Overnight stays were at motorhome stopovers at Michi-no-Eki Ochano Kyoto Minamiyamashiro-mura and Agri Park Ryuo. Entry to Umenosato Tsukigase Onsen and Junibo Onsen Yurara cost 800 yen each. The author noted that a three-day trip to a distant destination involves too much driving time.

In the final part of a four-day camper van trip report in Kagoshima Prefecture, the author visited the Camper Kagoshima dealership. The author inspected motorhomes equipped with air conditioning, received a consultation and took a test drive. The quoted price was too high for a purchase. The route also included the Sakurajima ferry, Kirishima Shrine and Takachiho Farm, where pets were not allowed inside.

Odaka Kogen campsite in Komono, Mie Prefecture, offers 18 electric hook-up pitches for motorhomes arranged in terraces on a slope at about 230 metres above sea level. Pitches overlook Ise Bay and the night lights of Yokkaichi and Nagoya. An electric pitch costs 5,000 yen per night, admission is 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for primary school children, with pre-school children free. Booking is by phone only on 059-396-3900 between 9:00 and 18:00, generally from three months before the stay. Non-electric tent pitches cost 3,500 yen, and a covered barbecue house is available for 5,000 yen for up to 10 people.

Chungwoon University in Hongseong opened its campus as a campsite from 30 October to 1 November during the Hongseong Global BBQ Festival. The site offered water, electricity and showers at no charge. Bookings sold out 30 minutes after opening. About 50 motorhomes and caravans parked on campus.

A fourth camper van trip covered a route from the Kanto region to Ise, returning via Hokuriku and Nagano. The total distance driven was 1,700 km. The departure took place after 21:00 on the eve of the holidays, but night traffic and roadworks delayed arrival at the Shimizu service area until about 2:00. The journey from departure to arrival in Ise took about 14 hours including stops.

MBC programme Today N will show a camper van converted from a US military truck in Jeju on 2 November. Owner Yoon Jae-yul, 55, spent about a year and 100 million won on the conversion. The interior includes a bedroom, kitchen, shower and toilet. The episode also features the owner camping with friends and cooking over a wood fire.

Sungju County held the second “Every Night Gayasan Healing Plus” festival at the Gayasan auto campsite from 31 October to 1 November. The site was decorated with orange lights and Halloween decorations.

The private operator of the Songdo International Campsite in Incheon stopped running the site after failing to pay 500 million won in usage fees. Operations were suspended from September and the operator's permit was revoked. The campsite, built in 2014 at a cost of 7 billion won, covers 38,000 square metres and has 56 tent pitches plus an auto-camping area, cooking facilities, a water play area and children's play equipment. A new operator has been selected, with the annual fee cut by about 30% to 500 million won. This is the second time the site has been shut over unpaid fees.

A Lots INOUTDOOR store has opened in the Aeon Mall in Hachioji, opposite the Hachioji Takiyama roadside station, combining outdoor equipment retail with a showroom for camper vans. On the day of the visit, three camper vans were displayed outside and four vehicles in total were on show, including NTB models SAKURA and HAYATE. Parking at the store is free and the ceiling height is at least 3 metres, allowing camper vans to enter without height restrictions. The shop also stocks camping and car-travel equipment.

In a South Korean apartment complex, camper vans and trailers have occupied parking spaces for a long period, causing conflicts among residents. According to a post on an online community, two vehicles had taken spaces for about a year, and a camping trailer was placed at a parking bay near the entrance. The management office cited the absence of rules and advised raising the issue at a residents' meeting. A 2022 study by the Korea Transport Institute noted that apartment grounds are private property, limiting intervention by police and local authorities. Amendments to the Parking Lot Act that took effect on 28 August regulate long-term parking at free car parks run by state institutions but do not apply to private parking areas in housing complexes.