Korea race calendar · Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Gyeongju International Marathon
경주 국제 마라톤
Run through Korea's ancient capital, October, past tombs and pagodas of the Silla Kingdom.
- Race date
- Friday, October 16, 2026
- Registration window
- Opens later May 25, 2026 to Jun 3, 2026
- Distances
- Full · Half · 10K
- Where
- Gyeongju Civic Stadium
The course
Out-and-back full marathon (with half and 10K) that loops through the historic centre of Gyeongju, past the royal tombs of Tumuli Park, around Anapji Pond, and out toward Bomun Lake before turning back.
Gently rolling.
No serious climbs, but rarely flat: the constant low-grade ups and downs add up. Wide roads, fully closed to traffic.
Weather you should expect
Mid-October.
Cooler than Seoul (5 to 12°C typical), drier inland air, sometimes a light morning fog burning off across the rice paddies. One of the better-weather marathons in the country.
The start area
Start area near the Gyeongju Civic Stadium / Hwarang Park feels more like a cultural festival than a race.
The city decorates the route with hanbok-clad volunteers, drum performers, and Silla-era reenactors. Field is mid-sized (~12,000 to 18,000).
How to register
-
Official site (gyeongjumarathon.com / gj-marathon.com depending on year)
Opens late July or early August.
Stays open longer than the Seoul majors, usually 3 to 4 weeks. English flow exists but is sometimes patchy; have Google Translate ready.
Bib pickup
Domestic registrants: bib and race pack ship to your registered Korean address roughly 1 to 2 weeks before race day. International runners and anyone who couldn't receive a shipment: Saturday-only pickup at the race expo near the start area.
Bring passport + confirmation. The expo is small but worth a stop for race-day fuel and last-minute gear.
Getting there
KTX from Seoul Station to Singyeongju (2 hours), then a short city-bus or taxi ride to central Gyeongju.
KTX needs to be booked weeks in advance for race weekend; it sells out. Express bus is the backup (4 hours).
Visitor tip
Make it a 2-night trip.
The race is the excuse; the city is the reason. Friday: arrive, walk Daereungwon tomb park at sunset, eat at the night-market.
Saturday: pickup, light shake-out by Anapji, early dinner. Sunday: race, then UNESCO sites Bulguksa and Seokguram in the afternoon.
FAQ
- Is this more of a tourism event than a serious marathon?
-
Both.
The course is real and competitive at the front, but the whole weekend leans into the historic-city festival feel. Visitors love it; locals run it for the PR-friendly weather and the post-race food.
- How busy is Gyeongju race weekend?
-
Very. Hotels book up 2 months ahead.
The KTX from Seoul sells out the same. If you wait until September to plan, you'll struggle on both.
- What's the post-race scene like?
-
Festival-style, food stalls, music, photo zones at the finish. Walking back into central Gyeongju after the medal ceremony, every café is full of runners in foil blankets.