Korea's marathon calendar: if you run just one race a year, which should it be?

Seoul, South Korea

1Seoul Marathon: Gwanghwamun to Jamsil in the March Cold Snap

It is a point-to-point full marathon from Gwanghwamun Square to Jamsil Olympic Stadium. Known for years as the Donga Marathon, the race held in 2026 was the 96th edition. It is the only race in South Korea with World Athletics Platinum Label status.

The 2027 race is set for March 21. Entry fee is full marathon 150,000 KRW and 100,000 won for the 10km, while the time limit is full marathon 5 hours for the marathon and 1 hour 30 minutes for the 10km. Registration has already closed, following qualifying-time submissions from April 28 to May 11 and priority entry, with general entry held by group on June 1–2.

Bib and the commemorative items are shipped before the race to the address provided during registration, with shipping paid by the organizers. As soon as the package arrives, runners should check that bib and timing chip are inside and contact the race office immediately if anything is missing or incorrect. There is no separate bib collection procedure on race day, so the main mistake to avoid is leaving bib at home.

Seoul can still have a late cold snap in mid-March. In some years, race-morning lows have been around 0°C before temperatures climbed to 14°C in the afternoon. The start-line wait feels like winter and the second half like spring, so racing layers should be chosen for spring, with many runners also carrying old clothes or an insulating sheet to discard at start line.

Seoul MarathonSun, March 21, 2027 · D-126 · Seoul, South KoreaSee race details

Chuncheon, South Korea

2Chuncheon Marathon: The Uiam Lake Course, by ITX and Shuttle

The AIMS-certified course starts at Gongjicheon Bridge and loops once around Uiam Lake. It began in 1946 and has now reached its 80th year, while its date—the last Sunday in October—has remained remarkably consistent. Among Korean runners, there is a saying that a runner has not truly made it until completing Chunma.

The 2026 race starts at 9:00 a.m. on October 25.

The time limit has a full marathon cut-off of 5 hours 30 minutes and a 10km cut-off of 1 hour 30 minutes; entry fee costs 150,000 won and 100,000 won. Priority registration based on the number of previous finishes opened first, followed by general first-come, first-served entry: the full marathon opened at 14:00 on July 14 and the 10km at 14:00 on July 16. Both have closed.

The minimum age for the full marathon is 18. Before the full marathon, runners have to get to Chuncheon before dawn. The ITX-Cheongchun takes about 74 to 80 minutes from Yongsan and about 58 to 64 minutes from Cheongnyangni; Chuncheon Station is roughly a 20-minute walk from the race venue.

The Gyeongchun Line, with a stop at Namchuncheon Station, is another option. Seats on race-morning trains sell quickly, and parking near Gongjicheon is limited. The most reliable option is the organizers' shuttle, which leaves Seoul City Hall, Jamsil, Sindorim and Sadang at around 6:00 a.

m. Those buses fill early unless reserved immediately after registration.

Chuncheon MarathonOctober 2027 · expected · Chuncheon, South KoreaSee race details

Seoul, South Korea

3JTBC — November 1 across Seoul, from Sangam to Olympic Park

The point-to-point course starts at World Cup Park in Sangam, crosses Yanghwa Bridge into Yeouido, then crosses Mapo Bridge and runs through downtown toward City Hall and Gwanghwamun. It continues past Heunginjimun and through Gunja and Children's Grand Park before crossing Jamsil Bridge. After turning toward Suseo, it finishes at Peace Plaza in Olympic Park.

The 10km ends at Yeouido Park. A course spanning Seoul from west to east comes with significant elevation changes. The early rises and dips on Yanghwa Bridge, the wind on the bridges, the gradual climb around Aegogae after entering downtown, the short rise near Konkuk University at around 26km, and the repeated ups and downs toward Suseo after 34km are the main tests.

The late-course rollers are widely considered the hardest section, making it sensible to hold back through the first 15km rather than run at goal pace. The 2026 race starts at 7:30 a.m.

on November 1. Registration, held from April 17 to 21, used a tiered lottery based on qualifying times and has already closed. Entry fee costs full marathon 150,000 KRW for the marathon and 100,000 won for the 10km.

Based on previous years, baggage check for full marathon ran from 6 a.m. to 7:20 a.

m. in the west parking lot of Seoul World Cup Stadium. One thing has changed this year.

Race-pack shipping has been discontinued and replaced by collection at the Korea Running Expo. Runners coming from outside Seoul need to plan the trip around the expo dates before the race date.

JTBC MarathonNovember 2027 · expected · Seoul, South KoreaSee race details

Daegu, South Korea

4Daegu — A February Gold Label race from the stadium through downtown

This urban course starts at Daegu Stadium's main stadium, follows the city's major arterial roads and returns to the stadium. Organized by Daegu Metropolitan City, it carries a World Athletics Gold Label, with elite and masters fields racing on the same day. Based on the full marathon, total elevation gain is about 259m, making it relatively flat, with one gradual climb near Samsung Lions Park in the second half.

The masters program includes the full marathon, 10.9km and a fun run. At the previous edition, entry fee cost 80,000 KRW, 50,000 KRW and 30,000 won, while the time limit cut-offs were full marathon 6 hours, 1 hour 30 minutes for the 10.9km and 1 hour for the fun run. The race starts at 9:00 a.

m. The field is capped at 40,000: 20,000 for the full marathon, 15,000 for the 10.9km and 5,000 for the Healthy Run. Entries are first come, first served, with no qualifying time or lottery, and close when the field is full.

The 2027 registration schedule has not yet been announced. Late-February mornings in Daegu are cold. Runners should arrive in layers and be prepared to remove them before the start.

As the earliest race on the calendar among these ten, it is also the event that most directly reveals the results of winter training.

Daegu MarathonSun, February 28, 2027 · D-105 · Daegu, South KoreaSee race details

Gyeongju, South Korea

5Gyeongju — From the civic stadium through Silla ruins, the international field starts first

Based at Gyeongju Civic Stadium, the race follows Silla-era sites such as Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto and Cheomseongdae, along with the scenery around Bomun Lake. The whole city is a heritage site, so after finishing you can explore Daereungwon and the Cheomseongdae area on foot. The start is at 8 a.

m., with the international division going first. There is a full marathon, a half marathon and a 10km; the time limit is 5 hours for the full marathon, 2 hours 30 minutes for the half marathon and 1 hour 30 minutes for the 10km.

Mornings in Gyeongju in mid-October get properly cold, so bring a layer for the start wait, and if you are running the full marathon, guard against pushing the pace too hard early on. The 2026 race is on October 17, and entry ran from May 26 to June 4 and has closed. Your bib, timing chip and souvenir are sent free by courier to the address you gave at entry 7–10 days before the race; if you change your address after entering, the change does not apply to that year's race.

Overseas participants collect theirs at the information booth at Gyeongju Civic Stadium on race day. The entry fee has an option unique to this race. Standard entry is 70,000 KRW for the full marathon, 60,000 KRW for the half marathon and 50,000 won for the 10km, but if you sign up as a mania entrant and skip the T-shirt, each costs 10,000 won less.

Gyeongju International MarathonOctober 2027 · expected · Gyeongju, South KoreaSee race details

Seoul, South Korea

6MBN — From Gwanghwamun Square to Jamsil, across downtown via half marathon

The half marathon is a point-to-point race from Gwanghwamun Square to Jamsil Olympic Stadium. It crosses the city from west to east, but covers half the distance of the full marathon. The 10km starts and finishes at Jamsil Olympic Stadium.

The aid station is positioned every 2.5km after the half marathon 5km point, while the 10km has stations at 3.5km and 7km mark. Wheeled transport—including strollers, wheelchairs, inline skates and bicycles—is not permitted. The 2026 race starts in waves by goal-time group at 7:30 a.

m. on November 15. The time limit is half marathon 2 hours 30 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes for the 10km.

Once the race ends at 10:30 a.m., traffic restrictions are lifted section by section.

Entry fee costs half marathon 100,000 KRW and 70,000 won for the 10km. Registration ran from July 1 through 3 and has closed. The bib, race merchandise and the bib with timing chip are delivered by courier before race day.

With a point-to-point course, checked bags leave first. Bag check operates from 6:00 a.m.

to noon on race day, but half marathon entrants must check their bags by 6:30 a.m.; the trucks leave at 7:00 for the finish.

The race starts at 7:30, but bags must be checked by 6:30, so race morning begins an hour before the start for half marathon runners.

2026 MBN Seoul MarathonSun, November 15, 2026 · D-0 · Seoul, South KoreaSee race details

Incheon, South Korea

7Incheon — The city's only full marathon, centered at Asiad Main Stadium

The Incheon Asiad Main Stadium serves as the meeting point for full marathon, 10km and 5km races. It is the only full marathon held in Incheon, with a target field of 20,000 runners. The full marathon route is being considered for a section across Cheongna Sky Bridge.

The 2026 race is scheduled for November 22, the latest of the autumn races on this list. Late-November mornings are cold. Bring a warm-up layer or thermal foil blanket for the wait before the start, but keep the race kit light.

If full marathon, start more conservatively than the target pace and save something for the second half. Much remains undecided. The entry fee, registration schedule, start time and time limit have not been finalized, and the organizers have yet to announce whether bib and race souvenirs will be shipped or distributed on-site.

The Cheongna Sky Bridge section is also still under review, so course may change. Of the autumn races, this is effectively the only one still worth waiting to enter.

Incheon Marathon 2026Sun, November 22, 2026 · D-7 · Incheon, South KoreaSee race details

Seoul, South Korea

8Seoul Race — From Seoul Plaza via Cheonggyecheon and DDP to Mugyo-ro

Half marathon entrants gather at Seoul Plaza and 11km entrants at Cheonggye Plaza before both events start on Sejong-daero in front of Cheonggye Plaza. Course passes Jongno, Dongdaemun, Namdaemun, the Bank of Korea and City Hall, Euljiro, Samil Bridge and Cheonggyecheon, and DDP before finishing on Mugyo-ro. The 2026 race is on October 11.

The cutoff for time limit is half marathon 2 hours 30 minutes and 11km 1 hour 40 minutes. Entry fees for entry fee are half marathon 80,000 KRW and 11km 70,000 won. Registration ran for three days, from May 27 through 29.

Bib and race gifts are shipped to the address entered at registration, with delivery paid by the organizer. The deadline for changing the shipping address was August 23 at 17:00. Finishers receive their finisher medal on site.

The start is at 7:30 a.m., with half marathon runners setting off first, followed by 11km runners who submitted a time and then those who did not.

All runners must be assembled before 6:30 a.m. Water and sports drink will be available at 5, 10 and 15km, while sponges will be placed at 7.5, 12.5 and 17.5km mark.

With direct access from City Hall Station, start line is among the easier Seoul races to reach by public transportation.

SEOUL RACEOctober 2027 · expected · Seoul, South KoreaSee race details

Daejeon, South Korea

9PpangPpang Run — Hangul Day morning at Expo Citizen Plaza, running followed by bread to share

A themed running event held at Daejeon Expo Civic Plaza, it combines running with the city's bread culture and supports a campaign donating bread to children from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Daejeon area. Outside course, the program includes the Bread Outfit Awards, photo zones and event booths. The distances are half marathon, 10K and 5K.

The 2026 race starts at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, October 9, Hangul Day, and half marathon time limit has a 3-hour cutoff.

October mornings can be chilly, so a layer for the wait before the start is useful. Runners in short sleeves should use arm sleeves to keep warm early in the race. For half marathon, a sensible plan is to hold the opening 5km below goal pace and save enough for the miles after 15km.

Entry fee costs half marathon 69,000 KRW, while the 10K and 5K cost 59,000 won. Registration ran from June 30 through July 10 and has closed. The Packet Pickup method has not been announced.

Hanbat Arboretum and Expo Science Park are close to the venue and make worthwhile stops after the finish. This is not a race built around chasing a time. With a separate Bread Outfit Awards program, clothing draws more attention than watches at Expo Civic Plaza on race day.

Bbangbbang RunOctober 2027 · expected · Daejeon, South KoreaSee race details

Daegu, South Korea

10Dalseo — two laps around Horimgang Naru Park, the 20th half marathon

This half marathon, 10km and 5km race takes place at Horimgang Naru Park in Daecheon-dong, Dalseo-gu, Daegu. The 2026 edition is the 20th, and the previous race accepted around 10,000 entries, making it one of the larger events in the Daegu area. The start area gets crowded, so arriving with time to spare is wise.

The 2026 race is on October 4, with the start scheduled for around 8:30 a.m. Registration ran on a first-come, first-served basis from May 20 through June 30 and has closed.

Based on 2025, entry fee cost half marathon and 10km 35,000 KRW, and 5km 15,000 won; 2026 fees have not been announced separately. Last year's race gifts were sports bags for half marathon and 10km entrants, and round-neck T-shirts for the 5km. Time limit remains undecided.

Early October in Daegu is cool in the morning but sunny later in the day, so a cap or sunglasses can help in the second half. Course uses the broad asphalt roads of Seongseo Industrial Complex. In the previous race, half marathon runners completed two laps of a loop that followed the riverside road and turned around near Gangchang Bridge.

Since the course is repeated, an even pace is the right approach: learn the course on the first lap, then spend the effort on the second.

The 22nd Dalseo Half MarathonOctober 2027 · expected · Daegu, South KoreaSee race details