Selling campsite lots or memberships is illegal — culture and land ministries urge consumers to take care
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said that selling campsite pitches or plots to individuals, or selling them as memberships, breaks the Tourism Promotion Act, and urged people to be careful with investment adverts promising high returns.
Key facts
| Who issued the warning | Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, 9 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | A campsite is a tourism business that an operator registers and runs as a single whole — selling individual lots or shares breaks the Tourism Promotion Act |
| Penalties | Up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (both can be imposed together) |
| Risks | Administrative action such as cancelled registration can restrict property rights over the land sold, and co-owners cannot dispose of their share without the consent of the other co-owners |
| Cases found | Memberships worth 100 million won advertised before a development permit was granted; detached-house plots advertised as private campsite lots |
| Reporting | The local government responsible |
Last checked:
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport warned on 9 July about illegal cases in which people promote campsite developments and invite investment in lots or memberships. Under the Tourism Promotion Act, a campsite is a tourism business that an operator registers and runs as a single whole, so selling individual camping pitches or plots to individuals, or selling them as shares, breaks the Tourism Promotion Act. Breaches can be punished by up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (both can be imposed together), and if a local government takes administrative action such as cancelling the registration, the property rights attached to the sold land can also be restricted. An inspection by the Board of Audit and Inspection found cases in which memberships worth 100 million won were advertised for sale before a development permit was granted, and in which detached-house plots were advertised as private campsite lots for sale. The government said that promoting campsite lot sales or memberships with promises of high returns is illegal and asked people to report such cases to the local government responsible.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
Can campsite pitches be sold to individuals?
A campsite is a tourism business that an operator registers and runs as a single whole, so selling pitches or plots to individuals, or selling them as shares, breaks the Tourism Promotion Act.
What are the penalties for breaking the rules?
Up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (both can be imposed together).