Jeju Car Camping: Where Can You Camp Legally? Public Parking Rules & 5 Campsites
Drive along Jeju's coastal roads and you'll spot them everywhere — travelers parked at a seaside lot, spending the night in their car with the ocean right outside. It looks like a pretty romantic way to travel.
But if you're planning to car camp in Jeju, where you park matters more than you'd think. Since an amended Parking Lot Act took effect on September 10, 2024, camping, cooking, and open flames are banned in public parking lots run by national agencies, local governments, and public corporations. Break the rule and you could face a fine — 300,000 won for a first offense, 400,000 won for a second, and 500,000 won for a third or more.
So in this post, I'm sharing five official campsites I've personally visited, along with how to tell the difference between a public parking lot and a proper campsite in Jeju.
Why Has Enforcement Gotten So Strict?
Complaints kept piling up over unauthorized cooking, camping, and littering in public parking lots near beaches, and that's what led to the amended Parking Lot Act taking effect on September 10, 2024.
- Legal basis: Camping, cooking, and using open flames is banned in public parking lots operated by national agencies, local governments, or public institutions.
- Fines: 300,000 won for a first violation, 400,000 won for a second, and 500,000 won for a third or later.
Enforcement is especially common at beach parking lots, coastal road parking lots, and parking lots near attractions or parks. The important distinction is whether you're in a public parking lot covered by the law, but other local rules and site-specific restrictions may also apply.
Is It Even Illegal to Just Sleep in Your Car?
This is the question I get asked most, so let me clear it up.
Q. Can I get fined just for sleeping in my car?
Simply sleeping in your car isn't blanket-banned. But if you set up camp-style at a public parking lot — cooking, using open flames, and so on — that falls under the Parking Lot Act and can be enforced.
In particular, if you've set up any of the following and stayed for an extended period, that starts to look like camping rather than simple parking:
- Setting up an awning
- Placing a table and chairs beside your car
- Pitching a tent
- Using a burner or open flame, cooking
The safest option is to use an official campsite where car camping is actually permitted.
What's the Difference Between Noji Camping and Car Camping?
Noji camping (노지캠핑), or wild camping, refers broadly to pitching a tent or tarp in an undesignated spot — an empty lot, a beach, near an oreum (one of Jeju's volcanic hills), and so on. Car camping means sleeping in your car, or using your car as a base for a camp-style stay.
The two overlap at public parking lots. Whether it's wild camping or car camping, if you set up in camp form at a public lot, it's treated the same way under enforcement. That said, being an official campsite or campground doesn't automatically mean every form of car camping is allowed there either — it's worth checking each site's specific rules on vehicle access, parking, and cooking.
5 Jeju Campsites I've Personally Visited
Here are the ones I've personally visited, along with how to use them and what facilities they have.
Donnaeko Recreational Area Campsite
1459 Sanghyo-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Island · View on map
Across from Wonang Falls. 6 caravan spots plus 17 deck sites, open year-round, with both restrooms and showers on site. Camping appears to be free of charge based on what I found. jejudnk.com
Read my full Donnaeko campsite guide →
Gyorae Natural Recreation Forest Campsite
2023 Namjoro, Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, Jeju Island · View on map
Set inside a gotjawal forest — a forest type unique to Jeju, formed on rugged lava rock. 40 total sites across deck, gazebo-style, and grass options. The only one of Jeju's forest recreation campsites with shower facilities. Advance reservation required. gyorae.foresttrip.go.kr
Read my full Gyorae campsite guide →
Gwaneumsa Campsite (Hallasan National Park)
Odeung-dong, Jeju City, Jeju Island · View on map
Sits at 620m elevation. Open fires and charcoal are banned (portable burners only). Showers are paid and only available in summer (July 15–August 31). No reservations — first come, first served. Phone: 064-756-9950
Read my full Gwaneumsa campsite guide →
Gimnyeong Beach Campsite
Gimnyeong-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, Jeju Island
Right next to the beach, and it hosts a camping festival in spring and summer. Using it as an official campsite is legal. Cooking stations and restrooms were originally only open during the summer season, but when I asked directly, I was told that due to rising complaints, restrooms are moving toward year-round access.
Geumneung Beach Campsite
119-10 Geumneung-gil, Hallim-eup, Jeju City, Jeju Island
Sits beneath a stand of palm trees. Camping appears to be free of charge (no reservation needed, walk-in use). No parking inside the campsite itself, though — you'll need to park at the free lot behind the beach and walk in. Showers and wash areas are paid and summer-only; restrooms are the shared beach facilities.
| Campsite | Restrooms | Showers | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donnaeko | Yes | Yes | No reservation needed |
| Gyorae | Yes | Yes | Advance reservation |
| Gwaneumsa | Yes | Summer only | First come, first served |
| Gimnyeong Beach | Partial (moving to year-round) | Summer only | Walk-in |
| Geumneung Beach | Shared beach restrooms | Summer only | Walk-in |
Facility hours and access can change by season and site conditions — check the latest notices before you go.
I don't just collect information about these places — I visit them myself and update this guide whenever I find something travelers should know. Jeju tends to reward the traveler who's careful with it, so I hope this helps you enjoy a relaxed trip at one of the official campsites, no unnecessary fines involved.
☀️ One More Thing from Sunny
As a local resident of Jeju, I explore the island in person and share practical tips, honest experiences, and photos from my travels.
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