์ถ”์ฒœ๊ธ€

Ancient Korean Glamping: How Joseon Royals Invented Outdoor Luxury - 500 Years Before RVs: How Korean Royals Camped in Style

By

๐Ÿž Living Like a Joseon Royal

How Ancient Korean Outdoor Life Predicted Modern Camping Trends

When you think about camping, what comes to mind?
A sleek RV, foldable furniture, and a cozy meal under the stars?

Wellโ€ฆ What if I told you that Koreans were doing this 500 years ago โ€” in silk robes, no less?

Letโ€™s travel back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392โ€“1897) and discover how royal and upper-class outdoor lifestyles mirror our modern camping culture.
Yes, even back then, portable kitchens, pop-up pavilions, and outdoor cooking were a thing.

๐Ÿ• 1. The Joseon Version of an RV: Saryunjeong (์‚ฌ๋ฅœ์ •)

Imagine a horse-drawn, four-wheeled wooden pavilion with blinds and collapsible walls.
That was the saryunjeong โ€” used by kings, nobles, and scholars for picnics, painting trips, and even political retreats.

  • โœ… Foldable panels for privacy

  • โœ… Shaded roof to block sun/rain

  • โœ… Portable yet luxurious setup

โ€œIt was essentially a glamping experience centuries before the term existed.โ€

A traditional Korean Saryunjeong, a four-wheeled wooden pavilion carriage, with a nobleman inside, set in a peaceful natural landscape of trees and hills โ€” capturing the elegance and mobility of Joseon-era outdoor life.
Joseon Dynasty Saryunjeong โ€” A Four-Wheeled Royal Pavilion Carriage in a Peaceful Landscape

๐Ÿฒ 2. Outdoor Cooking with Royal Flair

They didnโ€™t just bring food โ€” they cooked outdoors with style.

Main cooking tools included:

  • Hwaro (ํ™”๋กœ): a charcoal brazier for boiling or grilling

  • Gamasot (๊ฐ€๋งˆ์†ฅ): a heavy iron pot used for rice, stews, and boiling water

  • Clay jars for sauces, kimchi, and preserved foods

  • Bamboo containers for rice, salt, and side dishes

๐Ÿ‘‘ Even the kings loved "outdoor banquets" during hunting trips or nature visits.

Historical records mention King Jeongjo and King Sukjong hosting countryside feasts!

An illustrated collection of traditional Korean outdoor cooking tools on a beige background, including a charcoal brazier (Hwaro), an iron pot (Gamasot), a clay jar, and bamboo containers โ€” each item neatly arranged to showcase its historical function.
Traditional Korean Outdoor Cooking Tools โ€” Hwaro, Gamasot, Clay Jar, and Bamboo Containers Displayed on a Parchment Background
  • Above Left: Hwaro (ํ™”๋กœ) โ€” Charcoal brazier used for grilling or boiling
  • Above Right: Clay Jar โ€” Used for storing sauces, pastes, and kimchi
  • Below Left: Gamasot (๊ฐ€๋งˆ์†ฅ) โ€” Iron pot used for cooking rice or stews
  • Below Right: Bamboo Containers โ€” Used for holding rice, salt, or side dishes 

๐ŸŽ’ 3. The Original Backpacking Kit?

While peasants carried janggunmok (์žฅ๊ตฐ๋ชฉ) โ€” cloth bundles tied to a pole โ€”
scholars and officials brought elegant travel sets:

  • Portable desks, ink stones, tea kits, and even collapsible stools

  • All tucked into lacquered wooden boxes or layered satchels

Sounds familiar? Thatโ€™s right โ€” todayโ€™s modular camping gear is just a modern upgrade.

๐Ÿ–ผ 4. Art Meets Nature: The โ€œSketch Campโ€

Famous painters like Jeong Seon (์ •์„ ) and Shin Yun-bok (์‹ ์œค๋ณต)
often camped in valleys or mountains to capture Koreaโ€™s landscapes.
Theyโ€™d cook simple meals, sleep outdoors, and paint for days.

๐ŸŽจ These outdoor retreats werenโ€™t just art sessions โ€”
they were the original slow-travel experiences.

โ€œNo WiFi, just mountains and ink.โ€

Traditional Korean painting depicting two Joseon-era artists camping in a serene mountain valley โ€” one painting a landscape with a brush, the other preparing a simple meal near a fire, surrounded by flowing streams, trees, and rocky cliffs
Joseon-Era Artists Camping and Painting in a Tranquil Mountain Valley
 

๐Ÿง  Why Does This Matter Today?

Because it proves something important:

The desire to escape the city, slow down, and connect with nature is timeless.

Korean ancestors didnโ€™t camp out of necessity โ€” they did it for pleasure, peace, and perspective.
And in 2025? That spirit is alive and well โ€” just with more LED lights and solar panels.

๐Ÿ“ธ Bonus Idea: Recreate a Joseon-Style Picnic

Try setting up a Korean historical picnic:

  • A picnic mat + cast iron pot + side dishes

  • Hanbok-style clothes or props

  • Add a folding screen or bamboo blinds for that royal touch

A traditional Korean picnic scene set outdoors, featuring a man and woman in hanbok seated on a patterned mat with a cast iron pot and various side dishes, framed by a bamboo folding screen โ€” evoking the elegance and tranquility of a Joseon-era royal outing.
Joseon Royal Picnic โ€” Hanbok, Cast Iron Pot, and Bamboo Screen in a Traditional Korean Outdoor Setting

โœ๏ธ Final Thoughts

Modern camping didnโ€™t start in the West.
It was already part of Asiaโ€™s rich cultural tapestry, especially in Korea.

So next time you sip coffee outside your RV,
remember: youโ€™re not just a camper โ€”
youโ€™re living like a Joseon royal.


#JoseonCamping, #KoreanHistory, #GlampingOrigins, #TraditionalKorea, #OutdoorCooking, #AncientBackpacking, #CulturalHeritage, #RVHistory, #HistoricalPicnic, #HanbokLifestyle

Comments

Post a Comment