Indoor camping with pork belly in Mapo, Seoul: TAGE

Did you know there is an indoor camping spot in Hongdae? Heading far out into the countryside means packing everything from a tent and camping gear to tableware, not to mention worrying about the weather and bugs. I heard there was a place right in the middle of Hongdae where you could skip all that hassle and enjoy only the romantic camping vibe, so I went to check it out.

An indoor camping spot near Hongik University

TAGE Indoor Camping Hongdae Main Branch is right near Hongik University, on a street you have probably passed at least once if you have spent time around Hongdae. The address is B1, 79 Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and it is open daily from 11:00 to 23:00.

The venue is on basement level 1, and even the way down is decorated like a forest path, so I was already getting excited. I came looking for a little romance.

Once inside, the space was huge and designed to make you feel as though you had stepped into a forest.

From floor to ceiling, there were thick leaves, cherry blossom trees, and even reed props. The dim lighting creates a dreamy mood, like entering a secret glamping site deep in the woods around sunset.

Session times and seating options

• Session 1: 11:00–14:00
• Session 2: 14:00–17:00
• Session 3: 17:00–19:30
• Session 4: 19:00–23:00

There are 10 spots in total, and each seat comes with slightly different options. You can reserve the one you like, with choices including retro games, Netflix, Nintendo games, and Mario Kart.

Every lounging area has its own character, so wherever you sit, you can relax in a lovely atmosphere. I chose a seat where I could watch Netflix.

Ordering and fees

You can order from the menu using the T-order tablet at your table.

The base table fee for 2–4 people is ₩40,000. Seats without a monitor get a ₩10,000 discount for two people.

Corkage for wine and spirits is ₩15,000 per table, and you can also enjoy an ethanol fire-gazing setup.

You can order fresh samgyeopsal (pork belly), and it is not overly expensive considering it comes with kimchi and lettuce.

There is frozen pork belly too, as well as fresh pork belly sets with Hwayo 25 or Ilpum Jinro.

They also have a wide range of soups and stews, which would make excellent drinking snacks.

There is even a birthday miyeokguk (seaweed soup) set, so I think having a birthday party here would be nice too.

There is also a Naver receipt-review event: write 50 characters or more with a photo to receive one Ansungtangmyun instant noodle, or write fewer than 50 characters to receive a drink.

You can bring in takeaway or delivery food to eat at the venue, but you must sort the trash for recycling. For ₩1,000, they will clean up for you.

The day I grilled fresh pork belly

I ordered two servings of fresh pork belly, kimchi, and lettuce.

At a place like this, you might not expect much from the pork belly, but it looked fresh from the start—one look and it already seemed like it would be delicious.

After heating the grill thoroughly, I put on the thick slices of pork belly. It really felt like I had come to an outdoor campsite, and I loved it. Since this was a late lunch, waiting while the meat cooked was torture.

When the meat was turning beautifully golden, crisp outside and juicy inside, I snipped it into big, bite-size pieces with scissors. Then I piled plenty of sliced kimchi in the lower section where the fat collected and grilled it alongside.

I took a bite of the perfectly grilled meat and wow, it was seriously so good. I did not come here just for the camping vibe—I accidentally found a great pork belly restaurant, did I not?

It was great with ssammu (pickled radish wraps), which cut right through the richness.

Wrapping the pork and grilled kimchi in lettuce really brought the camping mood to life. After we finished eating, I watched Netflix—and I put on the recently released Field Mouse, you know? It was so entertaining haha. I watched without noticing the time and then headed out. If you are looking for a comfortable indoor gathering spot to escape rainy, unpleasant weather, or want to hang out with friends while enjoying a camping vibe, I recommend TAGE Indoor Camping!