2026 JTBC Seoul Marathon

The 2026 JTBC Seoul Marathon is one of South Korea's major autumn road races, bringing a large mass-participation field and elite competition across the capital on Sunday, 1 November 2026. The event has roots dating to 1999 and the organiser's international material identifies the course as AIMS certified and carrying a World Athletics Label. Around 30,000 runners are expected across the full marathon and 10K.

Both races start from Sangam World Cup Park in western Seoul before splitting to different finishes. The full marathon continues across the city to Olympic Park, while the 10K finishes at Yeouido Park. Organiser material describes a flat, point-to-point city course that links historic and modern Seoul, including areas around Deoksugung, Dongdaemun and Gwanghwamun Square, and crosses major Han River bridges. This makes transport planning important because the start and finish areas are in different parts of the city.

Race morning operations begin from 05:30, with bag drop and movement to the start area scheduled through 07:00. The wheelchair start is listed for 07:30, followed by international and domestic elite athletes and Full Marathon Masters Group A at 07:33. Remaining full marathon and 10K masters groups begin sequentially from 07:35. The full marathon has a five-hour limit, with the official programme showing the finish closing at 12:45. Timing uses disposable ChronoTrack chips and official results are based on net time.

The Korea Running Expo at SETEC is the compulsory race-pack collection point from 29 to 31 October. Participants must collect their own bibs and show a passport or government-issued photo ID. Proxy pickup and race-day collection are not allowed. Organisers also advise runners to use public transport because traffic controls will operate around the course and parking near race venues is restricted.

The domestic race filled quickly and moved to a raffle-based system, while the organiser's English site provides separate overseas registration routes for non-resident foreign runners. Overseas entrants should check the live registration partner for final availability before making travel plans.