Seoul Marathon

Founded in 1931, the Seoul Marathon has been a fixture of the Seoul sporting calendar for over 9 decades. What started as a modest local race has grown into an event that draws runners from around the world to South Korea's roads.

Runners come to the Seoul Marathon for one reason: personal bests. The flat, fast course through Seoul has a reputation as a PB factory, with the roads seemingly designed to keep your pace honest and your splits consistent from start to finish.

Getting into the Seoul Marathon is a race before the race. The entry lottery draws far more applicants than available spots, and the notification email — accepted or rejected — has become an annual ritual that defines the running calendars of thousands.

With 32,000 finishers and spectators lining the course deep, the Seoul Marathon generates an atmosphere that carries runners through the hard miles. The crowd support in Seoul is not polite applause — it's visceral, personal, and often the difference between hitting the wall and breaking through it.