Slow Travel Gains Traction Among Burned-Out Koreans

After quitting her job in September, 34-year-old Cho Eunhee packed a small bag and booked a one-way train ticket to Gangneung—not for a vacation, but for a reset. “I didn’t want sightseeing,” she says. “I just wanted silence and space.”

She’s not alone. Across Korea, a new form of tourism is gaining momentum: slow travel. Rejecting tight itineraries and Instagram-driven checklists, slow travelers are choosing to stay longer, move slower, and engage deeper with local communities and nature.

With burnout levels rising across the workforce, slow travel offers a form of quiet resistance. Instead of “where did you go?” the question becomes “how did it feel to be there?”

Bookings for extended stays (10+ days) in small towns like Namhae, Gangjin, and Jeju’s inland villages have surged 46% this fall, according to domestic travel platform Yanolja. Guesthouses and local B&Bs are adapting by offering monthly rates, on-site gardening, and even guided “digital detox” programs.

Cultural interest is also shifting. Rather than temple-hopping or photo ops, slow travelers seek traditional tea ceremonies, craft workshops, and long meals with locals. “It’s travel as immersion,” says Kim Yerim, founder of StayStill, a startup curating rural retreats. “It heals not just the body, but the tempo of life.”

The government is watching with interest. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced ₩12 billion in funding to promote “non-capital regional tourism” under a slower, more sustainable model. Pilot programs will launch in three provinces this winter.

Critics point out that slow travel is still a luxury for those with time and money. But for a growing number of Koreans, even short bursts of stillness are becoming essential. “I don’t need Paris,” Cho says, smiling. “I just need to wake up where I can hear the wind.”

Date: 2024-12-02

Reporter: 박근홍