'○Kangseu', Leave Immediately When Hooked... MZ, Their Own Vacation Style

Playing at Home is 'Homecance', Golf Vacation is 'Gorcance'... Unique Travel Themes Catch Attention
"Theme-style Vacations... Reflecting MZ Generation's Desire to Stand Out from Others"

The number of MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) planning trips with the unique theme of '○cations' is increasing. The photo is unrelated to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] As the summer vacation season approaches, an excited atmosphere is detected among people planning to go on vacation, with the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) drawing attention for their unique vacation styles themed around various types of '○cance' ranging from affordable 'Homecance' (Home + Vacation) to expensive 'Gorcance' (Golf + Vacation).

Recently, college student Kim Yerin (21) had planned a 3-night 4-day trip to Cebu with a friend but suddenly changed the plan to a 'Hoscance' (Hotel + Vacation). She said, "I couldn't buy tickets while adjusting the travel schedule with my friend, and when we rescheduled, the round-trip ticket price that was around 200,000 KRW nearly doubled to 400,000 KRW. Since my travel budget is limited, I decided to just spend time at a nice hotel in Korea."

Kim added, "I used to think that traveling meant going far away, but if circumstances are difficult, spending time nearby is not bad either. I started enjoying Hoscance since the severe COVID-19 period. The hotel has well-equipped facilities like swimming pools, and I can post Hoscance photos on social media (SNS)."

The vacation trend among the MZ generation is reaching a new turning point. In the past, travel plans were uniform, mainly enjoying nature such as mountains and seas, but recently, young people enjoy vacations with the concept of '○cance' in specific spaces.

If spending time at home, it is called 'Homecance' or 'Jipcance'; if at shopping malls or department stores, it is called 'Mollcance' or 'Baekcance.' When with pets, it is 'Petcance,' and if spending time exploring restaurants, it is called 'Matcance' or 'Meokcance.' Various vacation trends have emerged, increasing the number of new words.

The number of MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) planning trips with the unique theme of '○cance' is increasing. Photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article.

Among the economically well-off 2030 generation, 'Gorcance' is also popular. According to the Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute, the domestic golf population last year was 5.15 million, a sharp increase from about 4.2 million the previous year, with over 22% (1.15 million) being in their 20s and 30s. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for outdoor activities increased instead of indoor ones, leading to more 2030s enjoying golf rounds, and many traveling for the purpose of enjoying 'Gorcance.'

For those with short vacation periods who cannot travel far or want to avoid high costs, cost-effective 'Choncance' (Countryside + Vacation) or 'Supcance' (Forest + Vacation) themed vacations are also gaining interest.

Some people enjoy vacations entirely at home. Besides the comfortable home concept of Homecance, some even open a 'Better Park' (Veranda + Water Park) for their children, setting up parasols on apartment verandas and creating pools with air tubes to enjoy water play. This trend emerged as 'staying home' became normalized due to difficulties in using water parks or swimming pools amid the COVID-19 spread.

Experts analyze that the MZ generation's consumption of vacations in themed formats reflects their desire for diversity. Professor Lee Eun-hee of Inha University's Department of Consumer Studies explained, "Young people tend to seek things that reveal their individuality, different from others. When named like '○cance,' it becomes easier to share their lifestyle on SNS, so it seems to be preferred."