1 · The short answer
The Seoul Marathon is usually held on a Sunday in March. In recent years the course has started in central Seoul near Gwanghwamun and finished at the Jamsil sports complex, with a 10 km race on the same morning. Check the organiser's site for the confirmed date, the course map, registration and bib pickup before you book.
Roads along the course are closed for hours, which changes how you reach the start, how supporters cross the city and whether a taxi is any use. Ringo Light's South Korea plan covers Seoul and the whole country with unlimited data at full speed. It arrives by email and installs in one scan.
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2 · The race and your bib
Runners register through the organiser's site, and entries for popular races close quickly. Overseas runners should read the entry rules for their country and any medical or age requirements on the site. Bibs are normally collected before race day in person, with identification, so plan a day for that in your itinerary.
Do not assume this year's course matches last year's. Look at the official course map and the list of closed roads, which the organiser and the city publish ahead of the race.
3 · Road closures on race day
Roads on the course, and many around it, are closed to traffic for much of the morning, and buses on those streets are diverted. Taxis and ride hailing through Kakao T can be slow or unable to reach pick up points. The subway runs as usual and is the dependable way to reach the start and to cross the city.
Supporters should pick two or three viewing spots along the course, each near a station, and travel by subway between them. Crossing the course on foot is allowed only at points set by the organiser, so follow signs and staff.
4 · What your phone has to do
- ✓Maps. Use Naver Map or KakaoMap, which are more accurate in Korea than Google Maps for walking and transit. Save the area offline.
- ✓Taxis. Kakao T is the main app. Expect delays near the course until the roads reopen.
- ✓Translation. Papago translates signs by camera and works offline once you download Korean.
- ✓Cashless. Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere. A T-money card, or its phone version, pays for the subway and buses.
5 · Signal in the crowd
Korea has excellent coverage, but the start area and the finish at Jamsil hold tens of thousands of people and phones. Agree a meeting point and a back up in advance, do not rely on a call getting through, and send photos once you are on the train.
6 · Around the race
Early spring in Seoul is cool, with the first blossom late in the month. Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwanghwamun are near the start, and Namsan and the Han River are good for an easy recovery walk the next day.
7 · Frequently asked questions
8 · Sources
- Seoul Marathon (official): www.seoul-marathon.com/, date, course, registration
- Seoul Metro: www.seoulmetro.co.kr/en/, subway lines
- Visit Seoul: english.visitseoul.net/, official city tourism
- Ringo Light: prices from the catalogue our checkout charges, on the day you read this.
Read next: best esim for south korea · best esim for seoul
