Ever Slept a Night in an Old Classroom? Come to Guljeon Yeoga Camping

Hi, I'm Sudal. Today let's cross the Dolsan Bridge from downtown Yeosu and head to Guljeon Village in Pyeongsa-ri, Dolsan-eup. In this village there's a campsite with a slightly unusual name — Guljeon Yeoga Camping. When you hear 'campsite,' you probably picture the same kind of place every time, but this one starts out differently. This spot used to be a school. The playground where kids once ran around and the classrooms where they studied have been reborn as a campsite where travelers now pitch their tents and spend the night. Honestly, the first time I heard this story, my heart felt a little full, so today let me walk you through it slowly. Even as we crossed Dolsan Bridge, watching the sea ripple past the window, I found myself a little excited, wondering what kind of story was waiting for us today. Guljeon Village is known as one of the quieter, more warm-hearted corners of Dolsan-eup, so I hope you'll enjoy getting a feel for the village along with the campsite's story.

The Story Behind a Classroom Turned Campsite

The land where Guljeon Yeoga Camping now stands used to be the site of the former Guljeon Elementary School. As time passed and the school closed its doors, the City of Yeosu bought the site and redeveloped it into a campsite. These days, it's run by Yeosu MBC. It's an interesting detail that a local broadcaster brought a closed school back to life as a campsite — and honestly, hearing that a place children once left behind is now bustling with visitors again warmed my heart.

What really stands out is that the old classrooms weren't torn down — they were renovated and are still in use. Some classrooms where kids once studied have become lodging rooms, while others have been turned into seminar rooms. That means you can stay the night here even without a tent, and if you come as a group, you can even hold a gathering in the seminar room. I've heard the campsite also has a clearly marked facility map, so even first-time visitors shouldn't have much trouble finding their way around.

The Amenities Are Surprisingly Well Equipped, Too

When you think of a campsite, you probably worry a bit about amenities like restrooms and showers — but Guljeon Yeoga Camping seems to have put real thought into this part, too. The ground is finished with tile rather than bare dirt, and the site is equipped with restrooms, showers, a cooking area, and even a laundry room, so even people new to camping should be able to give it a try without much worry. Since it used to be a school, the grounds are spacious too, so multiple groups can spread out comfortably.

There's also an ochre-soil olle trail along the coast on one side of the campsite. After pitching your tent and settling in, it sounds lovely to change your shoes and take a slow walk along the sea breeze. Walking on soft ochre soil is said to feel completely different from walking on asphalt. Being able to enjoy both camping and a coastal walk in the same place feels like this campsite's hidden charm.

An Oyster Farm and a Special Winter Guest, the Swans

True to its name, Guljeon Village has long been known as a place where oysters (gul) are plentiful. Maybe that's why the Guljeon coast right in front of the campsite is lined with wide oyster farms. If you sit in front of your tent looking out at the sea and realize that's all oyster farms out there, Yeosu's coastline might start to look a little different to you.

This campsite also welcomes a special guest that you can only meet in winter. Every year, from late fall until early March of the following year, tundra swans — designated as a natural monument — are said to arrive here in flocks. Just imagining white swans settling onto the winter sea sounds pretty spectacular, doesn't it? Summer camping is great, of course, but making a special trip out here in winter to see the swans might just be one of Guljeon Yeoga Camping's most unique pleasures. Getting to encounter a natural monument you don't often see, right off the coast in front of your tent, is well worth keeping in mind if you're planning a winter camping trip.

Great Spots to Visit Together Around Dolsan

Dolsan-eup, where Guljeon Yeoga Camping is located, is considered one of the areas in Yeosu with plenty to see. Hyangiram, famous as one of Yeosu's top sunrise spots, isn't far away, and Bangjukpo Beach and Museulmok Beach are both nearby too. If you'd like to get a close look at marine life, stopping by the Jeonnam Marine Science Museum could be a great choice. After spending the night at the campsite, you could build a daytime itinerary around visiting these spots one by one. Plus, Dolsan-eup itself is connected by scenic coastal roads great for driving, so the trip to and from the campsite can become part of the journey itself. Coming back to the campsite in the evening to sit and chat about everything we saw that day sounds like it would be its own kind of fun on this trip.