It’s that time of year again, time to get registered for your 2020 spring race! As a current resident of South Korea I’ve found that its a bit difficult to find the best fit. Although larger international marathon websites have some Korean races listed, the information is largely outdated and incomplete. I wanted to compile a list that was better than just bullet points for perspective 10k, half marathon or full marathon runners looking for their spring race(s).
Race season in South Korea really get going in march, peaks during the cherry blossom season in April, then slows for the summer and peaks again in October for the fall foliage.
For this list I’ve selected Foreigner friendly or long standing races that have websites that don’t make me pull my hair out. There are numerous first year races occurring in 2020, but I’ve decided to prioritize those with a track record of being well received and executed.
In the coming week I will be publishing a comprehensive combined trail and ultramarathon race list and then an autumn marathon list. For now please enjoy this spring race list. Let me know if you will be racing any of these, and maybe I’ll see you there!
February
Koguyro Marathon
Date: February 16th, 2020 – Third Sunday of February
Distances: 10K, Half, 32.2, Full
This is the winner of the biggest eye roll award for English website, with a English page of about 15 lines but with luckily all the important details provided. This Seoul based race runs along the Han River and Yangjae Stream, and has the most bizarre website graphic.
This race offers group assignment based on expected finishing time and a 32.195km race option, which is the only of its kind that I’ve seen in Seoul. This race is 40,000원. The deadline to sign up is January 25th, and there a foreigner specific sign up page. There is a 10,000원 discount if you forgo the souvenir, which is a pair of pants strangely enough.
Ulleungdo Marathon
Date: February 23, 2020 – Fourth Sunday of February
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half, Full
Ulleungdo is by far one of the most beautiful islands in all of South Korea, that being said regardless of what the name would have you believe this race is actually in Seoul. Starting and ending in Yeoeido, this is a river side race that starts along the large Han River and then turns to follow the Anyang Stream. For the 35,000원 registration fee, you get a finishers medal and a black (kinda man purse) bag. The course is a redundant loop and registration ends on February 12th.
“Carbon-free Island Jeju” Jejusinbo International Clean Marathon
Date: February 29th, 2020 – Fifth Saturday do February
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half, Full
It’s an eco marathon? The website wasn’t super clear how it was more eco than other Jeju marathons, but this ocean side course looked very beautiful and is super foreigner friendly with a decent English website. As a big fan of Jeju I’d recommend it, but if you are wanting to support the environment, I didn’t see any clear mission statement about donations or the such. The animated eco mascot guy is cute though, so that’s something. Registration ends on the 23rd of January and costs 30,000원 – 35,000원.
March
Ulsan Marathon
Date: March 1st, 2010 – First Sunday of March
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half, Full
This river side race based in the industrial city of Ulsan has an interesting course that involves two different loops while traveling along the Taehwa River. This races boosts 5,000 racers with Jackets and finisher metals being given out to those completing at least 10km. This race does not have an English language option, but browser translate should work. Registration is 30,000원, and will end on January 31st or when 5,000 people have registered.
Seoul Open
Date: March 8th, 2020 – Second Sunday of March
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half
This Seoul based race starts and ends in Jamsil, with the whole course being run on the southern side of the Han River. This smooth waterside track is a redundant loop with seven aid station stops on the half marathon course, with a total cap of 1,000 people participating. This race is conveniently located, but the website has no English option. Luckily the information is contained in words and not graphics so a browser generated translate would be effective. This race has a 30,000원 fee and registration is expected to close when all spots are full, otherwise it will be at the end of February – website was a bit vague on this topic.
Changnyeong Marathon
Date: March 15th, 2020 – Third Sunday of March
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half
This country side race is located south of the Korean City of Daegu, in the small town of Changnyeong. 2020 will be the 14th time this redundant loop course has been run by an average of 5,000 people. This race isn’t particularly famous, and it lacks an English language option on the website but it has a flat course which can offer training for a later marathon. The fee is 30,000원 for the half and 25,000원 for the 10K. Registration ends on February 21st or when 5,000 have signed up.
Seomjingang Marathon
Date: March 22nd, 2020 – Fourth Sunday of March
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half, Full
I was 100% won over by their promotion video which was full of little adorable kids running with their parents and grandparents pushing their grandchildren in baby strollers. This river side redundant loop race isn’t anything super special to write home aside from the beautiful spring flowers and the tall mountains of Hadong-gun. This city is famous for its cherry blossom lined streets in Songrim National Park and the races runs through it. Registration is 30,000원 and expires on March 6th. There is no English information or registration page. Additionally, on the Half marathon or shorter distances there is no age restriction if you have an adult – kid friendly!
Seoul Marathon
Date: March 22nd, 2020 – Fourth Sunday of March
Distances: 10K, Full, Full Relay
By far the most famous marathon in South Korea with 20,000 (marathon), 15,000 (10k), and 5,000 (relay) participates, this race starts in the historic Gwanghwamun Plaza, runs through Seoul and ends in the Jamsil Sports Complex. This race offers in English registration, but the 2020 deadline has already pasted. If you intend to register for the 2021 race, registration opens in the second week on December and closes when sold-out. If you have a previous marathon, you can submit it to enter a specific racing group. Registration is 70,000원.
Jeju MBC International Peace Marathon
Date: March 29th, 2020 – Fifth Sunday in March
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half, Full
This race offers participants the opportunity to race along the ocean in one of the most beautiful places in South Korea, Jeju Island. This island famous for oranges and spring time flowers, hosts numerous road and ultramarathon trail races in the spring and fall months. This marathon is an excellent international trip marathon, as it is located near beautiful beaches, impressive landmarks and the tallest mountain in South Korea, Hallasan Mountain. The race started and ends at the Hillim Sports complex and is a redundant loop for each of the distances. Registration ranges from 40,000원 – 25,000원, with the deadline on February 28th, 2020.
Gurye Spring Flower Race
Date: March 29th, 2020 – Fifth Sunday in March
Distances: 5K, 10K, 21K
This race is the first in a series of three Gurye races hosted by the Goodrunner Company. This HOKA One sponsored race is a road race and by far has the best finisher metal of any in korea and you also receive a HOKA fitted t-shirt with a nice cherry blossom design. 
In fact if you complete all three races the metals can be put together to form this cute design. A bit gimmicky but the advertising totally worked on me, I’ll be attending all three races this year haha.
This road race is a loop that starts and ends at the Gurye Sports Complex (which is just a field with some stands) and registration is between 35,000원 – 20,000원. Registration is offered in English. An end date for registration has not been set, but as of January, registration is still open.
Incheon International Half Marathon
Date: March 29th, 2020 – Fifth Sunday of March
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half
Of the three races occurring on this day, this one is by far the most conveniently located for most people. This race is located in the city of Incheon, which is adjacent to Seoul and most famous for the Incheon International Airport ( Korea’s largest airport). The website is a bit light on the details but it starts and ends at the Incheon Munhak World Cup Stadium and runs around the city. Registration ends on March 11th, and is between 35,000원 – 25,000원.
April
Date: April 4th, 2020 – First Saturday of April
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half, Full, Disabled friendly
This marathon is set during peak cherry blossom season in the historic city of Gyeongju, the famous resting place of numerous Korean Kings. With its in English registration, this race is an ideal tourist race as the course runs along the water with cherry trees throughout the course. Registration is 35,000원 and ends in on the 15th of March.
Date: April 5th, 2020 – First Sunday of April
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half, Full
This spring race is set in South Korea’s third largest city and objectively has one of the least friendly English websites. I’d recommend the Korean setting if you want to see the course map (which they have uploaded the link as a google maps route, very nice) and to use the Translate function from your browser on their Korean language site for the best over view of basic informations. The deadline for registration is the 13th of March, and the half and full marathon is 40,000원 and the 10K’s fee is 30,000원.
Date: April 5th, 2020 – First Sunday of April
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half, Full
This small race only allows 150 people per event to join, so best sign up quickly if you are interested! Starting in Naju Sports Park, the full marathon route has you run in a loop almost all the way back to the start just to have you turn around, talk about a tease! Photos of the race show runners with cherry blossoms blooming on both sides of the road. This race has a deadline of March 20th and a registration fee of 30,000원.
Yongin Marathon
Date: April 11th, 2020 – Second Saturday of April
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half
With the youngest/coolest looking website, the city of Yongin is giving you the opportunity to win a green FILS shirt by running the 10K or Half marathon. This 6,000 person race is expecting much from you, with a 2 hour 30 minute half marathon time cut off. There is an in English signup but it looks like you need a Kakao account to access the application. It was a pleasant surprise that the course only have 2km of redundant running, with a variety of waterside and wooded areas to run through for the half marathon. There is an English ‘page’ as in one page, but it has all the fundamental details. Registration is 30,000원 and the deadline is March 8th.
Gunsan Saemangeum International Marathon
Date: April 12, 2020 – Second Sunday of April
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half, Full
This riverside race has by far the most friendly English website, with full details, course maps, videos and photos. Additionally, this race has shuttle buses that depart from Seoul, Daegu, Ulsan and Busan the morning of the race. Buses has round trip and one-way options and are for reasonable prices (ranging from 28,000원 – 35,000원). Additionally, the website provides a list of foreigner friendly accommodations. This is a smaller race for longer distance runners, with a total estimated 10,000 people, with the majority racing the 5K and 10K. Participants of this race get a medal and a FILS shirt, and registration ends on March 20th, 2020.
Pyongyang Marathon
When you google marathons in Korea, this one will come up but its in North Korea not the South.
Sejong City Marathon Race
Date: April 19th, 2020 – Third Sunday in April
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half, 28K
Someone had a bit fun with this website, the course map is adorable in that’s its colorful and it blinks, but it’s equally as useless as it is cute. When you click on the various races different parts of the map light up, Wow! But then it doesn’t give you any uselful details. With that as the standard I’m expecting random things for the souvenirs but sadly they haven’t been announced yet, but I’ll keep us posted. But back to business, this redundant loop course is expected to have 2,000 runners with a whole selection of awards being given out. The race doesn’t seem like anything special but if its in your region… Registration is 30,000원, and a 10,000원 discount to forgo the souvenir. Registration ends on March 20th.
Ulsan Couple Marathon
Date: April 19th, 2020 – Third Sunday of April
Distance: 5K, 10K
If you have lived in South Korea you know about couple culture, specifically the god awful matchy-matchy dressing style. Well welcome to hell. This ‘race’, in which everyone is only walking in the photos, has everyone in matching blue t-shirts. The souvenir is surprise, surprise a shirt, but we are currently being held in suspense as the color has yet to be revealed. The website is only in Korean and seems to imply you have to sign up with a partner. It’s 30,000원 for you and the person you decide to bring along in this torture fest. The registration deadline is March 19th.
SRN Happy Marathon
Date: April 25th, 2019 – Fourth Saturday of April
Distances: 3K, 5.6K, 10K, Half, Full
This race takes place in Daejeon, a nice smaller city an hour by KTX south of Seoul, and the route has a fairly complex but also redundant trail that will not leave you bored while running. It’s hard to say without an elevation map, but if you are looking for a more hilly race, this one is probably for you. The 10K, half and full distances include a section in a more hilly area before continuing down to following the river like a more traditional Korean race. There is no English website and the fee is complicated by if you want the commemorative shirt or just the medal, prices range from 40,000원 to 25,000원. The Registration deadline is April 9th.
Samcheok Marathon
Date: April 26th, 2020 – Fourth Sunday of April
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half, Full
This race hosted by the small town of Samcheok has a race map made on office paint. For once the course doesn’t include water side running, and instead its a small town neighborhood sort of vibe. Also, don’t get me started on their mascot. Like the previous race, this one has a complex fee structure based on a commemorative t-shirt and shorts combo and running creams with registrations costs ranging from 40,000원 – 25,000원. But don’t worry even if you don’t want to spend the big bucks on that outfit, they are giving you 1kg of rice from Samcheok included in a regular registration! The registration deadline is April 9th.
May
MORE MAY RACES TO COME! 🙂
Busan Half Marathon
Date: May 17th, 2020 – Third Sunday of May
Distances: 5K, 10K, Half
Busan, the second largest city in South Korea hosts this half marathon along the water and over a large bridge. With nine separate ambulance stations, this is likely the countries safest half marathon or the most aggressive graphic designer when it comes to those ambulance stickers on the map. The registration fee is 30,000원 and ends on April 27th.
Jeju International Tourism Marathon Festival
Date: May 24th, 2020 – Fourth Sunday of May
Distances: 10K (Walk), 10K, Half, Full
This coastal race starts and ends at the Gujwa Life Sports Park on the Gimnyeong Beach on the beautiful Jeju Island. This is the rare race in South Korea that has a 6 hour time limit instead of the typical 5 hour limit. This is race another race where its better to look up the information off the Korean website with the browser translate on, than their provided English site which has next to no information. But it is one of the rare races in that it actually has an elevation map! Wow, super impressive for a Korean race. Though the course does look really beautiful and Jeju Island is a great place to spend relaxing after a long day running. Registration is 30,000원 and ends on April 29th.
In the coming days I’ll be posting an update. Extracting information from all these Korean website can be a bit taxing, but I’ll be buffing out April and May with additional noteworthy races before the weekend.
Happy Racing everyone!
If would mean a lot if you let me know if I helped you find your spring race! 🙂
