Marathon de Séoul

Beneath its ultra-modern capital vibe, Seoul hides a secret that few runners suspect: its premier race existed before the World War II 🗓. The Seoul Marathon, also known by its historic nickname "Dong-A Marathon" in homage to its founding newspaper. In March, it brings together more than 35 000 competitors on the classic 42.195 km, plus a popular 10 km ☀️. Awarded the Platinum label by World Athletics, the event sits among record-chasing races on the Asian calendar, alongside other South Korea events 🇰🇷.

The story begins in 1931 with the race of Youngdungpo, direct ancestor of the current event 🏯. The sprinter Sohn Kee-chung, winner in 1933, later seized Olympic gold in Berlin in 1936 under the Japanese flag, Korea being under colonial rule 📍. The daily Dong-A Ilbo censored the photo of the Nippon flag in its report; colonial authorities suspended the race in retaliation 😶. World War II followed by Korean War forced further interruptions, before a return from 1954. The event then moved far from the capital: first to Chuncheon in 1992, a city that now hosts its own marathon, then to Gyeongju from 1993 to 1999, before definitively returning to its original streets in 2000 📆. Hwang Young-cho, who won in 1991, would later claim Olympic gold in Barcelona the following year 🥇, proof of the depth already present in the event at that time.

Now a mythical race, today the course starts from Gwanghwamun Plaza, under the gaze of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, passes the statue of admiral Yi Sun-sin and then Namdaemun Gate 🌸. The peloton then threads the Cheonggyecheon linear park,Cheonggyecheon, continuing on broadly rolling avenues to the district of Dongdaemun 🏙️. The only real challenge is the Jamsil Bridge which you cross between the 34th and the 35th km : a gentle ascent, headwind over the river Han, and legs growing ever more tired 😬. The final stretch descends toward the Jamsil Olympic Stadiumstadium where the 1988 Olympics took place, for a grand finish on the legendary track 🏟.

The Seoul Marathon is also a clock-smart event ⏱️. The course record belongs to the Ethiopian Haftu Teklu, with a 2h04"23 set in 2026 ahead of his compatriot Getaneh Molla

Unlike the majors that operate by lottery, here entry is first-come, first-served! 🤠 But that’s not all: you can also earn a performance certificate under the 4h59 marathon time to claim a bib 🎫. The atmosphere remains dense and disciplined from start to finish: meticulously timed aid stations, bananas handed out around the 30th km, a tightly packed crowd along the entire course, far ahead of even the Seoul International Ultra Trail Race that winds through the city’s hills in trail form.

After the effort, recovery means a stroll through the traditional district of Bukchon and its Hanok houses, where narrow lanes contrast with the flat asphalt conquered earlier 🏘. A trip to the N Seoul Tower offers a vantage over the megacity and a view of the morning route from above 🌆. The nearby Insadong district, with its artisan shops and traditional teahouses, is perfect for a calmer break for tired legs. On the dining side, the body craves comfort: a bowl of bibimbap, some barbecued pork ribs or a samgyetang ginseng soup as a comforting reward for the legs 🍲.

Nearly a century old and still as fast, the Seoul Marathon proves you can age without losing an ounce of speed. A "Soul" that’s truly unkillable, literally 🏁.