Korea race calendar · Chuncheon, Gangwon-do
Chuncheon Marathon
춘천 마라톤
Korea's most-loved autumn marathon, late October, Chosun Ilbo, around Uiamho Lake.
- Race date
- Sunday, October 25, 2026
- Registration window
- Registration closedJul 14, 2026 to Jul 23, 2026
- Distances
- Full · 10K
- Where
- Chuncheon Gongjicheon Artificial Turf Field
Chuncheon Marathon Weather Forecast: October 25, 2026
The course
Single-loop full marathon around Uiamho Lake. Runners gather and start at the Gongjicheon artificial turf field beside Gongjicheon Bridge, with the gun at 09:00.
Gentle rolling hills in the first 25 km, flat lakeside path through the back half. A 10K is also offered for those who don't want the full distance.
The course is famously scenic: autumn foliage at peak in late October, mist over the lake at sunrise. Korean runners regard this as their "real" marathon if Dong-A is too crowded.
Weather you should expect
Late October. Chuncheon is colder than Seoul: typical start 2 to 7°C.
Hands and ears matter. Sun usually pokes through by 10:00 and warms quickly.
The start area
Smaller field than Seoul or JTBC (~15,000 vs 30,000+).
The start on the Gongjicheon artificial turf field feels organized; you can warm up on the grass.
How to register
Official site (chuncheonmarathon.com)
Entry is first come and opens in July: for 2026 the full opened on July 14 at 14:00 and the 10K on July 16 at 14:00, after priority rounds in June for Hall of Fame members and repeat finishers.
Places have sold out within minutes in past years, so be logged in before 14:00.
Bib pickup
Domestic registrants: bib and race pack ship to your registered Korean address roughly 1 to 2 weeks before the race.
Anyone who could not receive a shipment should read the organizer's notice for that year. The arrangements change, so check before you travel rather than assuming a pickup desk.
Getting there
ITX-Cheongchun train from Yongsan or Cheongnyangni stations to Chuncheon, fastest option, 70 to 80 min.
Express bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal is ~90 min and runs every 15 minutes. Drive is 90 min in light traffic but race-morning roads near the start close from 06:00.
Visitor tip
Stay in Chuncheon Friday + Saturday nights. Eat dakgalbi (the city's famous chicken dish) on Friday, not Saturday, and walk Soyang River Skywalk after pickup for a low-effort shake-out with a view of the lake you're about to run.
FAQ
- How is the course compared to Seoul?
Smaller field so less jostling, a few real hills in the first half (nothing brutal, call it rolling), but the lake views and the autumn color make up for the harder profile. Slightly slower course than JTBC but a more memorable one.
- Where do most runners stay?
Hotels near the Gongjicheon start and Soyang-ro fill up by August. Mid-range hotels near Chuncheon Station are the cheaper fallback once the closer ones are gone.
- Is the post-race food good?
Yes, the finish-line tent runs hot dakgalbi, makgeolli, and traditional snacks. One of the better post-race spreads in Korea.
- Can I do this as a day trip from Seoul?
Possible but punishing.
Not comfortably. The gun is at 09:00, the ITX takes 70 to 80 minutes from Seoul, and the roads near the start close from 06:00. Stay Saturday night.