Seoul Marathon

3.9 (57 Reviews)
Seoul, South Korea
17 Mar, 2024 (Sun)
Event size: 25000 - 49999 participants

Running

10 km, 42.195 km

About the event

Experience the rich history of Korea with the Seoul Marathon. With its status as the second oldest marathon event in the world after the Boston Marathon, this marathon stands as an iconic figure representing the modern history of the country. Participants in this marathon have the added bonus of enjoying the rich sights of Seoul and the variety of food. With hotels and transportation are located close to the competition right at the heart of the city. Don't miss out on this opportunity to both compete and explore this amazing place!

Races offered by this event

10 km

17 Mar, 2024 (Sun)
Running
10 km
Solo
On site
Road

Marathon

17 Mar, 2024 (Sun)
Running
42.195 km
World Athletics Platinum Label
Solo
On site
Road

Course details

Start address

1-70 Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Finish address

9 Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Route map

route map

What’s included in entry

These are included in your entry
Finisher medal
Lockers
Event T-shirts
Drink Stations
Bag drop
Timing chip (single use)
Toilets
Pacers
Dressing rooms
Finisher’s T-shirts
Medical Assistance

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviews

3.9
57 Reviews
5
4
3
2
1
Write a review
user avatar
Norberto Palacios
Mar 2024

it was my first time running a marathon in cold weather, it was around 10C however feels like 0C, the waiting time for the marathon was the cold moment, during the run you don't feel it, except one part that it was like a really open road, and it was windy, it's a very flat run, and the scenario of the city of Seoul is great, good vibes of the runners costumes, smiles, not many in the crowd but super positive crowd, over all, I love it,

Very nice road, easy to run, not many up and downs, well organized, not too crowded, overall very positive experience

user avatar
Nan Zhang
Mar 2024

It was a gret experience and the track was great and perfect for PB! There are a lot of people registered and it;s a little crowded .

user avatar
Jose Antonio Megias Grau
Mar 2024

It was not a great experience because nothing was said in English, totally local although we were 3,000 athletes overseas. Not even just good morning and welcome! I’m disappointed. The organisation is not brilliant. When we cross the finish line nobody give to runners a thermal blanket like in the rest of the world. Japan is more well organised.

My garmin gave me a little more distance.

user avatar
Jean-Paul Baurez
Mar 2024

A good event with a nice crowd around some part of the circuit, fun and cheerful !! Fairly flat road, it helps when you don't have a great preparation or can go for a PB. The portion above Jamsil bridge is nice for the view. This year weather was nice apart from some cold gust of wind. The organization seems good as for the race. I don't have enough experience to really ascertain it but drinks, snacks and sponges were available in quantity and at many areas along the race ! Only negative point is that they failed the race pack with the sizing. Many people ends up with the wrong size (One size down) of T-shirts and we couldn't exchange it at the race pack collection site !!!

First time for me... I wish the legs would have let me go the whole distance to get close to 4h/4h10mn but it was difficult after 30k, too much weight to carry ^^ Still finished it at a very slow jog/walk...

user avatar
Tze Choong
Mar 2023

There were barely any spectators, probably because COVID-19 was just easing up. The temperature was around 1°C at flag-off. The first 25KM was mundane, as we looped around Eulji-ro and Jongno. The route also brought us through Cheonggyecheon Stream – nothing much and it was a fairly squeezy one lane route. The remaining 17KM was scenic, as we ran across Seoul. It is also a very flat route so good for PBs There were barely any portable toilets on route, which was terrible considering how cold it was. Every portable toilet had long queues, so I kept passing them until I saw one public. slightly off-route. Overall I still enjoyed the Seoul Marathon and I would highly recommend. Will be back! (Check out my full review below) https://www.instagram.com/p/C3HZKn4RTTz/?img_index=1

user avatar
Kin Yu Wong
Country flag of HK
Mar 2019
42.195 km

well organized. Not crowd. Fast track. Cool

good support. cheerful. good race

user avatar
Jacqueline Wong
Mar 2019

Seoul is a great race for anyone hoping to PR because the weather is ideal. It was around 4C at the start and warmed up to about 12C. The course is flat, not too crowded and there was no jostling at the tables for water or Pocari, available every 5 km. If you are looking for a scenic run with entertainment and a great vibe, I'd say this is not for you. There were hardly any spectators except around the bridge and near the stadium. The medal was nice but it was strange that it was put into the goodie bag along with fruits and snacks. All in all, it was better organized than I had expected and I had low expectations of this gold label race from the reviews that I had read. Maybe my view of it was influenced by the joy of a PR. The expo was none to speak of. It was just a few booths outside the Olympic stadium for mostly foreigners to pick up their bib. There was also a lack of portable johns along the way. But the ease of transportation to packet pick-up and to the race by subway is a big plus. Seoul deserves a higher profile among destination races because there is so much to see in the city. Tourists will not be disappointed even if the marathon is a bit bare.

user avatar
Andrew Louey
Mar 2019
10 km

Completed the 10km at the Seoul Marathon festival 2019. This is a great route to do a PB for 10km. Temperature is probably too cold for a PB for the marathon, but is ideal for the 10km. Positives: Well organised. Wide track, practically flat, and only a few corners to navigate for the whole course. Easy to drop off your bags and easy to pickup after the race. A little bit cold at the start at 10am but the sun and cramming in with other people in the chute made it tolerable in just singlet and shorts. You were warm and sweating by 0.5-1km into the race. Availability of information in English made communication and finding out information easy. Start area was buzzing with excited people, music and dancing. Negatives: No seeding in the start chute - this made it a little difficult to overtake slow people at the start who have decided to put themselves up the front. I was lucky not to have to do much overtaking but friends running further back said it was difficult to weave between slower runners costing them time. Expo didn't have many things to see and do - was really only there to pickup bibs - would have been nice to see some Korean running products on show and for purchase.

Pros: Wide track, practically flat course, minimal turns to navigate. Ideal temperature at the 10am start time to get a PB. Cons: Self-seeding in the start chute - meant slow runners were putting themselves in front of elite runners aiming for podium places.

user avatar
James Hill
Country flag of US
Mar 2019
10 km

I Got their 4 hours Early Because I Was Excited then everyone got together and started Scratching and exercising with great exercises I never did before and it was fun I was in the wrong group so I started in the Back but I also Finished in Front on The Most Becautil day ever with the Statues and Buildings I didn't even feel like I was On Earth it was a Dream to come True but Better because My Mind is not as Beautiful As The Great Country of South Korea That You everyone 🥈

10 was perfect for me I don't think I Could do much more than that but I found something I Love 2 do

user avatar
Surachman Surachman
Country flag of ID
Mar 2019

Smooth, not cramped, cold, not thirsty. Route is sterile. Pacer every 10 minutes, good. At WS WS, fruits should be provided. Medal distribution is not orderly. Medals should not be wrapped. Belted to the runner's neck.

Experienced

user avatar
Ester Franklin
Country flag of US
Mar 2019
10 km

This race is not for the faint of heart or those who need perfect conditions. You might call it a character builder; a cattle crossing, barely space to break through in the 10k, a week later my results are unavailable, chaotic, runners don't keep to the left or right, instead they're in the middle taking selfies, English website has yet to work for me for information, no toilet if you'd wanted it on the 10K course, I was issued the wrong bib, pedestrians crossing right in front of me, a bicyclist crossed right in front of me while I was running.

Flat, a slight down-hill. It would be fast but instead feels like being at a concert with so many people in a very confined space.

user avatar
Alfred Kin Wa Chan
Country flag of HK
Mar 2018

i attended the 2018 race last year and the race course was very accommodating to runners, except that runners be prepared to have enough reserve to run the last climb of the bridge at around 38km. The only disappointing issue for last year is that foreign runners are not able to get the adidas finisher T-shirt last year. Though this is not an issue for this year as you would need to order it if you want to get it.

Very flat course and very accommodating for runners

user avatar
Gazzy T
Country flag of KR
Mar 2018

Seoul International Marathon is a great course to achieve a fast time. The marathon could be so much better but it's great value for money and guaranteed entry. You start in Gwanghwamun and finish in the Olympic Stadium in Jamsil. You get a singlet and a finisher's tee which is decent considering the race costs $50. If you're residing in Korea, your bib is sent out in the post which I also like.

user avatar
Grace Tan
Country flag of MY
Mar 2018
42.195 km

A race which is IAAF gold label certified. I am certainly not impress. Firstly, I had so much trouble trying to access the website for registration. The info on their website is all korean. Had trouble looking up race kit pick up. There is no vibe to the expo at all. All the expo booth were empty. Pick up location is outside the stadium. With a big stage for some dance competition going on. Word of advice. Do not sign up for this marathon if you cannot complete this race under 5 hours. Made the 1st u-turn at 5km and the bus is already sweeping on the opposite side. The bus will follow the runners through out the entire running route. Water station is every 5km. Porta loo only available 15km & 30km. Otherwise pls look out for petrol station. I got to 30km water station 3:10 and they were already packing up tables. 8 tables only 3 left

You pretty much run through the city to get to the stadium. Couple of boring performance. Route is very flat and is most likely you can achieve a PB with flat road, cold weather and the peer pressure of the bus not far behind. Only an average looking medal. Nothing to shout about and no finisher tee. Running tee is given with your race pack.

user avatar
Eric Chow
Country flag of SG

Loved the race. But there seems a bit t0o many turns/corners. Saw a runner did a "shortcut and skipped a turn.

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