"Running Through Gangwon's Nature"... TNF 100 Korea Establishes Itself as an ESG Festival

Gangwon Tourism Organization Hosts Global Trail Running Festival
Successful Hosting of 'TNF 100 Korea'
Fostering Large-Scale Sports and Integrated Exhibition Tourism
‘TNF 100 Korea’ Presents a New Model for Sports Tourism

Gangwon Tourism Organization (CEO SungHyun Choi) announced on the 18th that the '2026 TNF 100 Korea (The North Face 100 KOREA)' event, held over two days from the 16th to the 17th at Gyeongpo Lake Plaza and nearby trails in Gangneung, concluded successfully with approximately 2,200 participants.

Gangwon Tourism Foundation (CEO Sung Hyun Choi) successfully concluded the "2026 The North Face 100 KOREA" event held from the 16th to the 17th over two days at Gyeongpo Lake Plaza and nearby trails in Gangneung, with approximately 2,200 participants. Provided by Gangwon Tourism Foundation

Now in its 11th year, this international trail running competition is hosted by the global outdoor brand The North Face, operated by Youngone Outdoor (CEO Ki-Hak Sung), and co-organized and sponsored by the Gangwon Tourism Organization. It has established itself as a truly global festival for trail running, set against the beautiful natural scenery of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province.

This year's event especially emphasized Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) values as its core principle. To put ESG into practice throughout the event, it was decided that no disposable cups or containers would be provided at any water stations or checkpoints. As a result, all participants were required to bring their own water bottles for the race. This voluntary participation helped promote a zero-waste culture by minimizing waste generation. In addition, Gangwon Tourism Organization collaborated with The North Face to conduct an ESG environmental cleanup (plogging) campaign, further contributing to environmental protection.

During the event period, the foundation operated a Gangwon tourism promotion booth and recruited participants for the ESG environmental cleanup (plogging) campaign. These efforts introduced a variety of eco-friendly sports tourism activities that allow people to enjoy and preserve Gangwon's pristine nature, and also provided interactive events for participants. Furthermore, the foundation promoted sports tourism within the province, encouraging participants to visit local attractions in connection with the event. This supported both the revitalization of the local economy and the establishment of longer-stay tourism in the region.

SungHyun Choi, CEO of Gangwon Tourism Organization, stated, "This year's TNF 100 Korea is more than just an event; it will serve as a milestone for ESG tourism that fosters deeper harmony with nature. We look forward to creating synergy with the '2025-2026 Visit Gangwon Years.' I hope that participants become special stewards who protect Gangwon's beautiful forests and seas through the simple act of using their own water bottles."

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