An aside, good portion of Koreans are Christians. Koreans walk the
Camino de Santiago encouraged by "Korean Hostel in Spain," a TV variety show in Korea. Three pioneering Koreans decided to start an albergue to provide passing travellers a comfortable resting space and warm Korean meals, targeted especially for Korean pilgrims who miss the taste of home while on the long journey. Korean Hostel in Spain was filmed at its Villafranca de Bierzo location. The popularity of the TV show is instrumental to travel businesses to arrange travel, hosting, providing logistics, and guiding Koreans desiring to walk the
Camino de Santiago. If you see a dozen or more pilgrims huddling around, wearing the same color ponchos or raincoats, chances are they are Koreans. These Camino travel groups are well-organized. Korean pilgrims are provided travel group name tags, interpreter/translator guides, and support vehicles along the path. Certainly, a good number also walk solo or with family and/or friends. The growing numbers of Korean pilgrims are the reasons for the introduction of Korean cuisine (ramen, bibimbap, kimchi, etc.) along the Camino that otherwise would be non-existent. Most of them speak English, and from personal experience, they are very kind, caring, generous, and helpful people.
