Day 3 – Solo Korea Car Camping Trip: Gunsan → Gochang

2021.05.26(Wed)

Before setting out on this trip, one of my biggest questions was,‘Will I really be able to sleep comfortably in my car?’

The answer?

Yes. Not just a simple yes

-but Yeeeeeeees.

Somehow, I’ve been sleeping so well every night, even having spectacular dreams. At least when I’m asleep, my car doesn’t feel like a car at all—it’s no different from a hotel room bed.

Maybe the equation ‘Familiarity = Fear’ isn’t always true. On this trip, if I didn’t get used to sleeping in my car, I think that would actually be a disadvantage.

Still, I don’t ever want to lose the gratitude I feel for those little moments of comfort. Every moment should be cherished and appreciated as if it were the first.

Anyway, enough of the prologue. This morning, I used the portable gas burner I brought from home for the first time. Since my mornings always begin with coffee, I was excited to finally have a cup after going without it for a while on the road.

…

Damn it.

I had brought a broken burner. My plan to save on food costs by making simple meals—coffee, ramen, instant rice—was ruined in an instant.

For about 0.8 seconds, the world went dark. But it’s fine.

There’s always an unexpected twist, and for every problem, there’s a way around it.

Coffee granules dissolve—well, mostly—even in cold water. And a not-quite-dissolved cold coffee has its own charm.

Maybe that’s why, starting my day with iced coffee today, I felt more awake and clear-headed than ever.

<Dongho Beach, Gochang>

Today, I decided to visit Dongho Beach in Gochang.

After giving Tongtong-i—my trusty little car who’s been running tirelessly by my side—a much-needed full tank, we set off for Gochang.

Around lunchtime, I started feeling hungry, so I stopped by a small village and had a bowl of gukbap. It had been a while since I’d had rice, and in that moment, I was reminded once again why we Koreans say we live on the strength of rice.

After about an hour and a half of driving, I finally arrived.

But to my surprise, instead of the clear, refreshing ocean I’d been expecting, the sea looked vast yet lonely—its colors muted, the sky hazy.

I felt like if I stayed here too long, I’d end up feeling just as lonely myself. I thought about finding somewhere else, but there was no decent place nearby to stay the night, and I was already tired. So, I decided to spend the night here after all.

As I had done every day, I set up my chair and gazed out at the sea, losing myself in its view. I must have read for nearly two hours. Perhaps because the ocean was so calm, I felt completely undisturbed, as if I had become one with the book in my hands.

After finishing my reading, I took a walk along the shore.

Somewhere along the way, it felt like I had opened my heart to the sea.

It felt more like me than any other ocean I’d met—lonely, yet quietly and steadily churning out waves and sprays,calm, yet never truly still for even a single second.

Once again, I was reminded—you can’t judge by first impressions.

After walking and walking, I eventually made my way back to the car.

This place was pure hallelujah—because it had free public Wi-Fi.

Not wanting to waste the opportunity, I stopped by a convenience store, bought some beer and snacks, and sat by the sea watching a movie.

As if perfectly timed for the climax of the film, the sun began to set. I finished the movie while watching the day melt into the horizon.

By the time I closed my laptop, night had already settled in.And just like that, my day came to an end.

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2. Sometimes, it’s not a bad thing to open up and be honest about how I feel.

:But—too much honesty can turn into poison.

Ever since I was young, I’ve been a master at quietly pretending to be fine. I don’t know why, but even when watching sad movies, I would hold back tears, worried that showing them would make me look weak. Maybe that’s why, whether I was troubled, sad, or angry, I never showed it.

I’ve gotten much better over the years, but I’m still not great at expressing my emotions.

Looking back, I think that quote was probably what my younger self most wanted to hear—that I didn’t have to carry everything alone. That just as we share joy with others, it’s okay to share our sadness too, and let it go.

Even now, it’s a truth I’m reminded of from time to time—how many regrets I’ve had from holding back, and how many regrets I’ve had from being too brutally honest.

I once heard that the reason we have two ears and one mouth is so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. There’s no need to always quietly swallow everything alone. That’s not maturity or strength—it’s just foolishness.

Don’t bottle it up.

Be true to your feelings in everything. Be honest with yourself and with others, but never in a way that causes harm.

That’s the conclusion I came to from today’s journey.

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