Gimpo Hangang Marathon Sets Record Attendance After Official Certification, Emerges as Leading Event in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

Gimpo City Hosts Largest-Ever 14th Gimpo Hangang Marathon
Over 7,400 Participants Set New Annual Record
Unique Course Along Han River and Barbed-Wire Trail Receives Positive Reviews
Side Events Enrich Festival: Hwang Youngjo Fan Signing, Performances, and Taekwondo Demonstration
Kim Byoungsoo: "Aiming to Become Korea's Leading Marathon"

The Gimpo Hangang Marathon, which takes runners along the barbed-wire trails by the Han River, has garnered attention this year for its remarkable quantitative and qualitative growth as it became the first officially certified event by the Korea Association of Athletics Federations among marathons held in Gimpo. After introducing the full course for the first time last year, the Gimpo Hangang Marathon was elevated to an officially certified marathon event, attracting approximately 7,400 participants and successfully establishing itself as a leading marathon in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Gimpo City held the 14th Gimpo Hangang Marathon on the 29th at the Gimpo Sports Complex. Photo by Gimpo City

The 14th Gimpo Hangang Marathon, held on the 29th at the Gimpo Sports Complex area, brought together more than 8,500 people, including marathon clubs, families, and volunteers from all over the country, from early in the morning.

The Korea Association of Athletics Federations' official course certification, which was applied to the Gimpo Hangang Marathon this year, was obtained by Gimpo City for the first time among basic local governments in the western metropolitan area, and is the 12th case among the 226 basic local governments nationwide.

The official record from the Gimpo Hangang Marathon serves as certified documentation for qualifying for domestic and international marathons and for calculating elite and masters rankings. Participants can also submit their results as official qualifying times for major international competitions such as the national team selection trials, the Olympics, the Asian Games, and the World Athletics Championships.

This year's course started at the Gimpo Sports Complex and followed a route along the Han River's barbed-wire trail, passing through Sau Sageori, Bukbyeon Interchange, Haseong, and continuing to Gochon. In total, three race categories were offered: full course, 10km, and 5km. The unique course, which follows the Han River and barbed-wire sections distinctive to Gimpo, received positive reviews. Participants expressed high satisfaction, with comments such as, "The scenery along the Han River was impressive," and "Each section had a different atmosphere, which made it fun."

Kim Byungsoo, mayor of Gimpo City, is delivering a greeting at the 14th Gimpo Hangang Marathon held on the 29th at the Gimpo Sports Complex. Provided by Gimpo City

In addition to the participants, spectators expressed enthusiastic support. This year, the event featured even more diverse side events, including a fan signing session with athlete Hwang Youngjo, trot and pop music performances, and a taekwondo demonstration, showcasing the essence of a festival-style marathon.

Furthermore, the operation of water stations, guidance routes, and the deployment of safety personnel were all handled in an organized manner, minimizing confusion. The medical support system was also operated swiftly, allowing participants to join the event with peace of mind. The city collaborated with related agencies such as the police, fire department, and medical institutions to implement traffic management and safety measures. Citizens' active understanding and cooperation with traffic controls on key road sections helped ensure the event proceeded smoothly without major congestion.

Kim Byoungsoo, Mayor of Gimpo City, stated, "The Gimpo Hangang Marathon, which has continued to develop through achievements such as being the first in the western region to obtain official course certification from the Korea Association of Athletics Federations and the introduction of the full course, continues to attract much attention thanks to the charm of running against the backdrop of beautiful nature and its festival atmosphere for families. We will continue to strengthen the quality of event operations so that the Gimpo Hangang Marathon can grow into a marathon that represents Korea."

Gimpo City held the 14th Gimpo Hangang Marathon on the 29th at the Gimpo Sports Complex. Provided by Gimpo City

Meanwhile, the Gimpo Hangang Marathon has set new records every year, with participation numbers rising from around 3,800 in 2022, to about 4,450 in 2023, 5,700 in 2024, approximately 6,600 in 2025, and 7,400 in 2026.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.