Sales of tents, tarps and other temporary shelters are estimated to have increased 57 percent compared to the same period last year. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — Camping is a huge trend in South Korea.
Despite the small inconvenience of leaving home and camping in the great outdoors, there is no sign of the popularity of camping slowing down.
With the new government mandated 52-hour workweek, people have spare time to enjoy their hobbies at leisure, and with increasing entertainment programs featuring camping, the number of people venturing outdoors is on the rise.
Gmarket, an online shopping site, saw a sharp rise in sales of camping-related items for the month between July 20 and August 19.
Sales of tents, tarps and other temporary shelters are estimated to have increased 57 percent compared to the same period last year.
Cargo trailers, which are often employed to carry camping gear, also saws sales rise with growth of 53 percent with a wide price range from hundreds of thousands won to millions of won.
The increase in sales of basic camping equipment such as camping trailers and gear bags rose 44 percent, while sales of portable camping stoves increased by 47 percent.
After “Camping Club” was aired, products used or worn by Fin.K.L members dominated real-time search words on portal sites, and triggered a surge in spending on gear. (image: JTBC)
The popularity of camping gear even in midsummer was attributed to the popularity of the cable channel JTBC’s entertainment show “Camping Club,” which featured four members of the now-defunct girl group Fin.K.L., who enjoyed huge popularity in the past.
After “Camping Club” was aired, products used or worn by Fin.K.L members dominated real-time search words on portal sites, and triggered a surge in spending on gear.
For instance, the growth rate of digital cameras and black-and-white cameras on Gmarket reached 433 percent and 728 percent respectively over the previous month as footage of Lee Hyo-ri taking pictures of her colleagues with black-and-white cameras was aired.
“Although it was not good weather to enjoy camping due to frequent rain this summer, demand for related goods has surged since “Camping Club” was aired, and each product featured on the show has been gaining popularity,” reported a Gmarket official.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
