Safe Outdoors... The Camping Market in Full Flow

Popular Safe Outdoor Activities
Estimated Market Size of 7 Trillion Won Last Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] As the summer vacation season reaches its peak, the popularity of 'camping' continues to rise steadily. The sustained popularity of camping, which gained attention as a safe outdoor activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, is also driving growth in the related market.

According to the Korea Tourism Organization on the 18th, the domestic camping market size last year is estimated to be about 7 trillion won. The camping market, which was around 2 trillion won in 2017, grew to 2.6 trillion won the following year, then rapidly expanded to 3.0689 trillion won in 2019 and 5.8336 trillion won in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing about 2.5 times in four years. The Korea Trade Statistics Promotion Institute estimates the domestic camping population to be approximately 7 million people.

This trend is not only domestic but also global. The global camping market size, which was 62 billion dollars (about 81 trillion won) last year, is expected to increase by about 11% to 68.9 billion dollars (about 90 trillion won) this year and grow to 100.5 billion dollars (about 132 trillion won) by 2026.

The popularity of camping is also reflected in the growth rate of transaction amounts by product category at Musinsa’s sports specialty store ‘Musinsa Player,’ which launched its service last April. The transaction amount for camping goods increased by 617% over about three months until the end of June, surpassing other categories such as fitness goods (518%), swimwear and rash guards (343%), hiking and trekking shoes (300%), and uniforms (188%).

As the camping population increases, the demand for camping supplies naturally rises. Especially with the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) joining the camping population, camping now incorporates individuality and preferences, such as ‘Meokping’ (enjoying meals leisurely while camping) and ‘Campnic’ (light, picnic-style camping).

Related product launches in the industry are also continuing. K2 released the ‘Cozy Series’ earlier this month, a line of emotional camping goods that allow easy enjoyment of camping and picnics. The series includes tents, chairs, tables, sleeping bags, and mugs. Shinsegae International’s lifestyle brand Jaju also reported that sales of related products such as the ‘Camping Ceiling Fan,’ which can be hung or stood, and the ‘Electronic Mosquito Swatter’ equipped with a double safety net, increased by 1.5 times compared to last year.