Seoul to bring thousands together for women’s marathon Saturday

Runners participate in a marathon in Seoul. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

Seoul will turn its western riverside park district into a sea of runners and walkers Saturday morning as about 7,000 participants take part in a women's marathon designed less for competition than for community.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said the 2026 Women’s Marathon will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Peace Plaza in World Cup Park in Mapo District, marking the 26th edition of an event first launched in 2001 in partnership with the Women’s News.

Unlike elite road races focused on finish times, the event emphasizes participation and public health, organizers said. The course includes 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer runs as well as a 3-kilometer walking route aimed at families, beginners and casual participants. The event is open to all genders and ages.

Officials said the event is designed to encourage broader participation in recreational exercise, reflecting what they describe as Seoul’s push to become a “city of companionship and attractiveness” through accessible sports programming.

The race includes a charitable program called the “Together Run,” which invites children from local welfare facilities to participate alongside the runners.

City officials said traffic will be partially restricted from 7:20 a.m. to 9 a.m. along sections of Jeungsan-ro, World Cup-ro and Haneul Park-ro. The course was designed to minimize disruption by keeping most activity within the park area.

Emergency response teams, medical stations and ambulances will be deployed along the route, officials said. A joint operations center will coordinate safety measures with police and fire authorities.

Kim Myung-joo, director of tourism and sports at the city government, said the event is intended to bring residents together through shared physical activity.

“The Women’s Marathon is a meaningful festival where people of all ages can walk and run together, sharing health and family bonds,” Kim said. She added that temporary traffic restrictions were unavoidable and asked for public cooperation.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.