On the 3rd, National Foundation Day, Gangchon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, comes alive with the energetic steps of marathon enthusiasts from all over the country.
The '2026 Chuncheon United Marathon', which marks its second anniversary this year, will be held in the Elysian Gangchon and Bukhan Riverside areas of Namsan-myeon.
It is jointly hosted by Yonhap News, a national news agency, and the Chuncheon City Athletics Federation, and co-hosted by ICT specialist company The Pickt and the Korea Scout Federation.
The competition operation headquarters prepares course maintenance and safety and traffic measures to welcome runners from all over the country.
◇ From people in their 80s to couples celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary… A challenge spanning generations
This competition will be held in three events: half (21 km), 10 km, and 5 km.
Starting with the half at 9 a.m., the 10 km starts at 9:10 and the 5 km begins at 9:20.
The opening ceremony will be simplified so that participants can warm up and depart at the scheduled time.
A variety of generations participated, from the oldest person in his 80s to elementary school students, and groups such as 40 members of the Chuncheon City Medical Association and 20 Gangwon FC employees continued to participate.
Min Seong-suk and Seong Il-kyung, who are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, will run their first marathon in Gangchon, the site of their first date in college, and attempt to complete the 5km race.
The couple, who made memories of their youth in Gangchon in 1982, celebrates their wedding anniversary on National Foundation Day by running together. I have been practicing consistently with a focus on finishing the race together rather than recording a record.
Korea Sports Promotion Foundation coach Hwang Young-jo, the 'Hero of Montjuic' and a marathon gold medalist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, will also run with the club members.
◇ Run, stay, consume… Revitalizing Gangchon, the ‘MT Holy Site’
This competition aims to be a regional win-win festival that attracts stay and consumption in Gangchon, which was once a popular MT attraction for college students but has become stagnant due to changes in the tourism environment.
This year, 58% of the participants are from outside the country, and participants from the metropolitan area account for 38% of the total.
Organizers expect that they will add vitality to the local commercial district by using restaurants, cafes, and lodging facilities before and after the competition.
Last year's first competition drew a crowd of nearly 10,000 people, including 4,900 runners, their families, and volunteers, and the proportion of runners from outside the country reached 69.9%.
The direct expenditure in the region analyzed at the time of the first competition was 798 million won, and the production inducement effect was 1.42 billion won. Participants’ intention to revisit also reached 76.2%.
This year, we introduced a payback system that provides 10,000 won of Chuncheon Love Gift Certificates to all participants to encourage running to lead to consumption in the region.
Residents of Namsan-myeon also help by improving the course environment, providing traffic guidance, and cheering on the streets.
The slogan of the competition is ‘On the day when the sky opens, the sound of your breath makes the heart of Gangchon beat again.’
It contains the meaning of connecting the challenges of runners with the vitality of Gangchon.
◇ Drone control, 12 shuttle buses… Safe and convenient race preparation
The half course consists of a 9km section of the Gyeongchun National Highway and the Bukhangang Riverside Bicycle Road and back around Baekyang-ri Station and Gangchon.
In the running crew's preliminary inspection, the riverside scenery and relatively flat section were cited as advantages.
The operation headquarters inspected unpaved sections and road contact points and carried out course maintenance, including weeding and pothole repair.
Artificial intelligence (AI) consultation and real-time drone control help guide participants and respond to unexpected situations.
Safety guards and fences are placed in risky areas to separate the movement paths of vehicles, bicycles, and runners.
Ambulances were also distributed, and water supply support and goods storage counters were strengthened.
We inspected traffic control plans with the police and autonomous crime prevention units, and also prepared detour routes to reduce inconvenience to residents.
For participants in the metropolitan area, the ITX-Cheongchun train will temporarily stop at Baekyang-ri Station, two each for up and down.
12 shuttle buses will also be operated between Gangchon Station, Baekyang-ri Station, temporary parking lot, and competition venue.
Jeon Chang-dae, CEO of The Pickt, said on the 2nd, “Rather than a competition that ends the moment it crosses the finish line, we will make it a festival that leaves new vitality and hope in the region.”
