South Korean Marathons Boost Major Event Status with Influx of Runners

The Gongju Baekje Marathon and the Gyeongju International Marathon are solidifying their status as premier running events, drawing participants from across South Korea. The Gongju Baekje Marathon, scheduled for September 20, has attracted 12,000 runners, while the Gyeongju Marathon on October 17 has seen 20,000 registrations.

Notably, the Gongju Baekje Marathon, held in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do, has seen a significant increase in participants from the Seoul metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon). This group now accounts for 49.9% of runners, up from 45.9% last year. While participants from the nearby Chungcheong, Sejong, and Daejeon regions still represent a substantial portion at 28.4%, their share has slightly decreased from 37% in the previous year.

The Gyeongju Marathon, taking place in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, continues to draw the largest contingent from the Yeongnam region (Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk), making up 45.5% of participants. However, this event also observed a notable surge in runners from the Seoul metropolitan area, with their participation rising to 38.9% from 34.3% last year, an increase of 4.6 percentage points.

Both marathons are successfully attracting a broad spectrum of participants, not only from the capital region but also from various other areas. Approximately one in five runners (21.7%) in the Gongju Baekje Marathon and one in seven (15.6%) in the Gyeongju Marathon are coming from areas close to the host cities, demonstrating the events' expanding reach and appeal beyond their immediate locales.