Korea race calendar · Seoul
JTBC Seoul Marathon
JTBC 서울 마라톤
Autumn Seoul marathon, early November, Sangam World Cup Park start.
- Race date
- Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Registration window
- Check official site Opens Apr 12, 2026
- Distances
- Full · Half · 10K
- Where
- Sangam World Cup Park start; Full finishes Olympic Park; 10K finishes Yeouido Park
The course
Loop course based out of Sangam World Cup Park (Mapo).
Full marathon runs out along the Han River west bank, swings inland through Yeouido, and returns along the river to finish back at World Cup Park. Half marathon turns earlier.
Almost entirely flat.
The Han River cycle path is wide and runnable, the few overpasses are short. Strong PR course if conditions cooperate.
Weather you should expect
Early November. Typical 6 to 12°C at start, dry.
One of the better-weather major marathons in Asia: autumn Seoul is cool, low humidity, foliage at peak. Wind off the river is the variable.
The start area
World Cup Park staging area opens around 06:00 for an 08:00 gun. The plaza is huge so it doesn't feel claustrophobic.
Subway from Digital Media City station is the move. Toilets are plentiful, much better than the Dong-A start.
How to register
-
Official site (marathon.jtbc.co.kr)
Opens late June or early July, ~4 months before the race.
Sells out in a few days, not hours. English-friendly signup; you create an account, pick the distance, and pay via Korean card or PayPal.
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Charity / sponsor entries
JTBC offers a charity-runner channel each year. Higher entry fee but bypasses the lottery; details posted on the site closer to opening.
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: pickup is Friday and Saturday before the race at a central Seoul location (often COEX or Hyundai Department Store Mapo).
Bring passport + confirmation. No race-day pickup.
Getting there
Subway: Line 6 World Cup Stadium Station or Digital Media City (Line 6 + AREX): 10-min walk from either.
Race-day shuttle from a few Seoul stations is announced annually. Driving is discouraged but the World Cup Stadium parking lot is huge.
Visitor tip
Pair the trip with a Saturday afternoon at Haneul Park (right next to the start): the silver-grass field is at peak in early November and a 30-minute easy walk is a perfect shake-out the day before.
FAQ
- JTBC vs Dong-A Seoul Marathon: which should I do?
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Dong-A is the bigger name with the Jamsil Stadium finish and Platinum Label status; weather is cooler.
JTBC is in better autumn weather, flatter, and easier to enter. If you only run one, do Dong-A for the prestige and JTBC for the PR shot.
- Is the course closed to traffic?
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Yes for the road sections; the Han River cycle-path sections are shared but kept clear of cyclists for the race window.
- What's the cutoff?
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5 hours for the full marathon. Half is generous.
- Are there foreign-runner pace groups?
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Not formally, but pace balloons are in English numerals (3:30, 4:00, etc.) and the pacers run by published splits.