"Island Trips by Day, Romantic Car Camping by Night"... Shinan County Unveils Stay-Oriented Tourism Product 'Seomcar'

Runs from Oct. 31 through Dec. 28... Tackles transportation and accommodation at once
"Hope to keep visitors longer and boost local spending"

Shinan County in Jeonnam-Gwangju and the Arts Island Foundation are launching a new tourism product that combines island travel and accommodation using camper vans.

The county and the Arts Island Foundation said they will operate the “2026 Shinan Seomcar (SeomCAR) Pilot Project” from October 31 to December 28, 2026.

Shinan County is launching the “SeomCAR Pilot Project,” a new tourism package that combines island travel and accommodation. Photo courtesy of Shinan County.

“Seomcar,” a name combining “island” and “car,” is a stay-oriented tourism product designed to let visitors travel freely between Shinan’s islands in a camper van and sleep in the vehicle.

The project aims to address both transportation and accommodation, two of the biggest inconveniences of island travel, while encouraging visitors to stay longer and spend more in the local area.

Visitors can pick up a camper van near Mokpo Station, travel around Shinan’s islands, and return the vehicle to the same location.

The vehicles are equipped with basic travel gear, including a camping table and cooking utensils, making them relatively convenient for families, friends, and couples.

In particular, the project moves beyond sightseeing trips that begin and end on the same day by encouraging visitors to stay on the islands for at least one night and make use of local restaurants, tourist facilities, and specialty products. This aligns with Shinan County’s efforts to promote stay-oriented tourism.

Weekday visitors will also receive a 10% to 30% discount on high-speed rail (KTX) fares.

Reservations can be made online or by phone. For details on how to use the service, visitors can call the information line.

During the pilot period, the Arts Island Foundation plans to analyze visitor satisfaction, travel routes, and vehicle operations, and use the findings to decide whether to launch the project officially in 2027 and to improve the service.

A foundation official said, “Seomcar is a new way to travel that brings transportation and accommodation together, unique to Shinan. Through this pilot, we hope to create an opportunity to make Shinan an island where visitors want to stay one more night.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.