South Korea turns closed schools into auto-campgrounds for families

South Korean company M-TOS RV, which specializes in detachable campers for pickup trucks, aims to change how vehicles are used. CEO Choi Gi-soo stated that the company's goal is not just to build campers but to create a new lifestyle, allowing one vehicle to serve both work and leisure. The company develops a system where a camper can be mounted on a pickup only when needed, leaving the truck usable for daily tasks otherwise. M-TOS RV claims to be the only company in Korea legally permitted to modify vehicle structures for camper installation and holds four patents for its tie-down systems.

On July 9 at around 4:55 p.m., a large caravan being transported on a truck fell onto the road at Sinbok intersection in Ulsan. No injuries were reported, but severe traffic congestion occurred. Police are investigating the driver.

Yeongju City is recruiting 20 families for a free 1-night-2-day camp at Yeongjuho Auto Campground on July 29-30. The camp targets families with children from 4th grade to 2nd year of middle school. Participation is free, and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis via Naver Form starting July 21 at 10 AM.

Incheon's Gyeyang District is struggling to reopen the Duri Camping Site in Gyulhyeon-dong and build a water park there. The project is stalled because two procedures block each other: obtaining a river occupancy permit from the Han River Basin Environmental Office requires budget, while securing a special grant from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety requires the permit. As a result, the local council cut the entire 528 million won budget in the first supplementary budget, and the permit review has been suspended. District officials say if the water park cannot be built, the entire reopening plan must be reconsidered. The original target of reopening by June 2027 is now unlikely, and even a post-2028 opening depends on budget availability.

Nam-gu district in Gwangju announced the opening of the 'Pictol' auto-camping site on August 1. The site has 16 drive-in pitches with gravel surfaces and amenities.

South Korea's camping market is rapidly shifting toward glamping, caravans and dome houses, but the legal framework still treats all camping as tent-based. A seminar hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Assembly discussed the unclear legal status of new camping types, building area limits (currently 10% of site or 300 sq m in protected areas) and inconsistent local permit enforcement. Issues with foreign tourist booking and payment barriers, lack of multilingual safety information, and unregistered campsites were also highlighted.