12 Participants Collapse, 1 Seriously Injured During '2026 Imjingak DMZ Marathon'

During the '2026 Imjingak DMZ Peace Marathon,' held with hopes for peace between North and South Korea, a series of safety incidents occurred as participants collapsed during the event.

According to the Paju Fire Station on April 20, a call was received at approximately 10:36 a.m. on April 19, reporting that "a runner has collapsed" along the marathon course in the Majung-ri area of Munsan-eup, Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

The total number of casualties from this incident amounted to 12. Among them, a 43-year-old man identified as Mr. A showed signs of impaired consciousness and high fever near the Imjingang intersection. He was urgently transported to a nearby hospital by the fire department's emergency team. Mr. A is currently classified as being in serious condition and is receiving intensive treatment.

In addition, six people, including a 36-year-old man who experienced hyperventilation and convulsions, sustained minor injuries and were transported to hospitals via fire department and privately dispatched ambulances stationed at the event. The remaining five participants, who complained of exhaustion and dizziness, recovered on their own after receiving first aid on-site and returned home.

At the time of the incident, Paju Fire Station immediately deployed eight vehicles, including a command vehicle, and 28 personnel to manage the scene and assist with patient transport.

Fire authorities and marathon organizers believe that the sudden rise in temperature that morning, combined with participants continuing to run excessively, led to cases of heat-related illness and exhaustion. They are currently investigating the exact circumstances of the incident.

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