Korea race calendar · Chuncheon, Gangwon-do
Chuncheon Marathon
춘천 마라톤
Korea's most-loved autumn marathon, late October, MBC, around Uiamho Lake.
- Race date
- Saturday, October 24, 2026 · predicted
- Registration window
- Watch window
- Distances
- Full · 10K
- Where
- Chuncheon, Gangwon-do
The course
Single-loop full marathon around Uiamho Lake. Start and finish at Chuncheon Stadium.
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+).
Stadium-based start feels organised; you can warm up on the infield grass. Bag drop is inside the stadium concourse.
How to register
-
Official site (chuncheonmarathon.net)
Opens in early August. Sells out, but more slowly than the Seoul majors.
About a 2-week window is normal. English signup pathway exists.
Bib pickup
Domestic registrants: bib and race pack ship to your registered Korean address roughly 1 to 2 weeks before the race. International runners and anyone who couldn't receive a shipment: Saturday-only pickup at Chuncheon Stadium.
No race-day pickup. If you're coming up from Seoul Saturday morning for pickup, allow time: the ITX train takes ~1 hour, the express bus a bit longer.
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 stadium 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?
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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 colour make up for the harder profile. Slightly slower course than JTBC but a more memorable one.
- Where do most runners stay?
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Hotels around Chuncheon Stadium and Soyang-ro fill up by August. Mid-range hotels near Chuncheon Station are 10 to 15 min by taxi to the start; cheaper option if the closer ones are gone.
- Is the post-race food good?
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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?
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Possible but punishing.
First ITX from Yongsan is 06:00 which is too late for an 08:30 gun. Stay Saturday night.