Korea race calendar · Seoul
Seoul Marathon (Dong-A)
서울 마라톤 (동아 마라톤)
Asia's oldest marathon, first run in 1931, March, Gwanghwamun start, Jamsil Olympic Stadium finish.
- Race date
- Saturday, March 20, 2027 · predicted
- Registration window
- Registration open May 17, 2026 to Jun 2, 2026
- Distances
- Full · Half · 10K
- Where
- Gwanghwamun Square / Seoul city course
The course
Point-to-point full + half through central Seoul. Gwanghwamun Plaza start, runs east along Jongno and Cheonggyecheon, crosses to the south side via one of the eastern Han River bridges, then a long stretch along the river path to finish inside Jamsil Olympic Stadium, the same track that hosted the 1988 Olympic marathon.
Net mostly flat, with a few short rolling stretches around the bridges. Nothing technical.
World Athletics Platinum Label, IAAF-certified. First run in 1931, Asia's oldest marathon in continuous form, with the field now around 40,000 across the full and the 10K.
Weather you should expect
Mid-March. Typical conditions 4 to 10°C at the start, climbing into the low teens by the finish for slower runners.
The variable isn't temperature; it's pollution and rain. Pack for both possibilities and decide on race morning.
The start area
Gwanghwamun fills up from about 06:30 for an 08:00 gun.
Corrals seed by predicted time and fill fast, so be in your assigned corral 30 minutes before the start or you get bumped back. Bag drop is well-organised but queues are long; if you live in Seoul or are staying close, going light and skipping the bag check is the better move.
My race-day record · Half-and-half (full marathon as a two-person relay, second leg) · 2023
The course, exactly as I ran it
Course, splits, pace and heart rate from race day, recorded on my watch.
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- Finish time
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- Avg pace
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- Elevation
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- Avg HR / Max
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Loading race record…
Drag the line on the map or hover the charts to see splits along the route.
- Distance
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- Elapsed
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- Pace here
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- HR here
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All splits
| Km | Split | Cumulative | Pace | Avg HR | Elev + |
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I ran this · Half-and-half (full marathon as a two-person relay, second leg) · 2023
My experience
This was my first organised race. I'd run all through high school and college but never raced anything.
A friend talked me into the Seoul Marathon in 2023 and we did the "half-and-half" format the race used to offer, a two-person relay where each runner takes half of the full marathon course and hands off at the midpoint. They don't run the half-and-half anymore, but it was the right way in for me, and it's still the way they run the equivalent format at Gunsan.
I took the second leg, so I missed the Gwanghwamun start (one of the great Korean race-day moments) but I got the entire south half of the city: Jongno through Wangsimni, across one of the eastern bridges with Lotte Tower sitting on the southern skyline like a target, then the long Han River stretch into Jamsil.
Crossing that bridge and seeing Lotte Tower in the distance was the moment the run clicked for me. Finishing inside Jamsil Olympic Stadium, running through the tunnel, onto the actual 1988 Olympic track with the stands full, is the kind of finish that turns you into a marathoner.
I had a bit left in the tank so I sprinted the last 100m on the track. Cannot recommend that feeling enough.
It's a big race, around 40,000 across the full and the 10K, and somehow still well-organised. Food, medals, post-race flow at the finish were smooth.
If you can get in, do it. Seoul Marathon isn't in the World Marathon Majors but it deserves a seat at that table; it's in the same conversation as New York, London, Tokyo, and very few races on the planet finish you on an Olympic track.
How to register
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Official site (seoul-marathon.com): domestic
Two things have changed in recent years and both matter. First, you now need to be a registered Dong-A Club member before you can apply; set that up well in advance.
Second, the domestic full marathon requires a certified previous-race record (a sub-4:00 or sub-5:00 finishing time depending on the year, verified during the registration window itself). Half marathon is more flexible.
Opens in early November; the full sells out the day it opens. Have multiple devices ready, be logged in, have your record-certification info to hand.
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International runners
The international pathway is published separately and usually lands later in the year.
Requirements are looser than the domestic flow: the certified-record gate is more forgiving and there's a dedicated foreign-runner contact. Follow the official Instagram (@seoul_marathon) for the announcement; it's the single most reliable signal.
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Sponsor / corporate slots
A small block goes through corporate partners and Dong-A Ilbo channels. Worth asking around if you miss the public window.
Bib pickup
Domestic registrants: your bib and race pack ship to your registered Korean address roughly 1 to 2 weeks before the race. You do not need to go to the expo.
International runners and anyone who couldn't receive a shipment: pickup is at the COEX expo on the Friday and Saturday before race day. Bring your passport and the printed confirmation.
No race-day pickup. The expo itself is worth an hour even if you don't need it for pickup; it's a decent gear shop.
Getting there
Start: Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5, exit 5 or 6). Finish: Sports Complex / Jamsil (Line 2).
The subway runs from ~05:30 on Sunday so you have time. Don't drive: central Seoul road closures from 05:00.
Visitor tip
Follow the official Instagram.
Registration windows, the international pathway timing, certified-record rules, course changes: all of it lands there first. Korean race info changes year-to-year and the Instagram is the most reliable source.
FAQ
- Is the Seoul Marathon foreigner-friendly?
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Yes, the international pathway has looser certified-record requirements than the domestic flow, the expo and on-course signage are bilingual, and there's a sizeable international field including a deep East African elite group. The official Instagram (@seoul_marathon) is the canonical place for the international-runner announcement each year.
- Do I really need a certified previous-race record?
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For the domestic full marathon, yes, and you have to upload it during the registration window itself, not before. The threshold has shifted by year but think sub-4:00 or sub-5:00 finish time from a certified race.
The half marathon is more flexible. International runners have more leeway; check the international pathway when it's announced.
- How fast does the full marathon sell out?
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Same day as the window opens, often within hours. Be ready on multiple devices, logged in, with your certification record ready to upload.
- Does the race still offer the "half-and-half" relay format?
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No, they retired the half-and-half a few years ago.
The half marathon stands alone now. The two-person handoff format does still exist at Gunsan and a few other Korean races.
- What's the cutoff?
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5 hours 30 minutes for the full, enforced by sweeper buses. Half is more relaxed.