올해는 해외여행 대신 캠핑 ...'슬기로운 캠핑생활' 즐기는 홈핑족 늘어<br /><br /> This summer, the coronavirus pandemic has all but canceled vacation for many families.<br />Looking for other options, some have taken up camping but with a twist.<br />They're pitching their tents at home... in their apartments in the city.<br />Our Min Suk-hyen reports. <br /><br />"From the outside, this home seems no different from any other, but once you walk in, it feels like a camp site."<br /><br /> One father of two ... who has been into camping for 11 years, has filled his living room with camping gear... just as he would at any camp site.<br />His extensive collection of lanterns and camping cookware are placed on one side of the room...while the other side hosts a table with a built-in gas stove.<br /><br />Following a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and a two-month-long monsoon season in the country, 'at-home camping' has become a new trend. <br />And with tougher social distancing measures now in place, the decision was made to move the camp site indoors.<br /><br />"There's a camp site just five minutes away from here and I used to go there about two times a month. But it has been closed since March and I can't camp there anymore. That's why I decided to start 'home-camping' instead." <br /><br />But they are not alone in this sweeping trend.<br /> Instead of overseas vacations... families are choosing to give their children a safe camping experience… with the comforts of home. <br />With folding chairs, a parasol and lights ... one family took the initiative to bring the outdoors in.<br /> <br /> They planned a trip early this year, but were forced to call it off due to the coronavirus outbreak.<br />Since then, camping at home has become their weekend getaway. <br />But it hasn't been easy.<br /><br />"It's really hard to get equipment you want. Prices have almost doubled and demand is high even for used camping gear. It really feels that camping is popular these days." <br /><br /> South Korea's retailer Gmarket says sales of camping tents in the first six months of 2020 surged 57 percent on-year … while tables and chairs rose by 44 percent and 23 percent, respectively.<br />Other e-commerce retailers are also seeing sales of camping gear jump … as many more people are splurging on camping accessories … to lift their spirits in the midst of a global pandemic.<br />Min Suk-hyen, Arirang News. <br />
