Lately, my TikTok feed has been completely taken over by Korean camping videos, and I’m not mad about it. What started as a few clips here and there has turned into a full-blown obsession, because every single video proves the same thing: when Koreans go camping, they do not play about the food.
I’m used to the typical American camping menu: hot dogs, burgers, maybe s’mores if you’re feeling ambitious. But Korean camping? It’s a full-on production. It’s giving a five-course meal in the middle of the woods, and honestly, it’s making my usual idea of camping food feel extremely underwhelming.
One TikTok from @helloitsoap shows a camping dinner that looks like it came straight from a restaurant. They set up an entire Korean barbecue situation with pork belly sizzling on a grill, pre-marinated meats, and a spread of side dishes being prepared by others. There’s rice cooking, bean sprouts being seasoned, and kimchi getting tossed into a stir fry like it’s nothing. And just when you think they’ve done enough, they level it up again, adding mozzarella cheese on top of their kimchi fried rice and torching it for that perfect melt.
And it doesn’t stop there. They’re making upgraded ramen at the end of the night, frying the seasoning in oil before adding the noodles, which apparently changes everything. They even pour honeycomb into makgeolli, which is rice wine, for a sweet twist.
Another video from @linda_pandas_table shows a more family-style version of Korean camping, but it’s just as impressive. Her dad is setting up a portable grill while her mom lays out marinated baby back ribs like it’s a backyard cookout. There is fresh corn from the farmers’ market, soft rice, salad, and of course, kimchi because no Korean meal is complete without it.
Then there’s @sarasparkypark, who literally documents an entire day of camping in South Korea, and I swear it keeps getting better. They start with what she calls a brunch, but it’s actually multiple rounds of Korean barbecue beef first, then pork belly wrapped in leafy greens with sauces and fresh chives. And somehow that’s just the beginning. While everyone is eating, someone else is preparing fish cake soup in the background, so by the time you’re done with one dish, there’s already something warm and comforting waiting for you.
What really stood out in all these videos is how communal everything feels. It’s not just about eating; it’s about everyone contributing. Someone is grilling, someone is prepping side dishes, someone is cooking soup, and it all comes together into this huge, shared experience. Even the smallest details, like packing homemade banchan or bringing extra garlic, show how much care goes into the meal.
I think that’s why these Korean camping TikToks are blowing up. It’s not just the food, it’s the vibe. It turns something simple, like camping, into a full experience that feels comforting and, honestly, kind of luxurious.
At this point, I’m convinced we’ve been doing camping wrong. Because if Korean camping has taught me anything, it’s that you can be in the middle of nature and still eat like you’re at a full-on feast. And after watching all these videos, I’m seriously considering upgrading my next camping trip because burgers and s’mores just aren’t going to cut it anymore.