Contributors run on the Kim Dae-jung Peace Marathon on the Peace Park in Seoul’s Mapo District, Nov. 23, 2025. Yonhap
The Seoul Metropolitan Authorities unveiled a brand new set of pointers tightening laws on marathons organized or sponsored by town, aiming to cut back site visitors disruptions, noise and public inconvenience as a working development exhibits no signal of slowing.
Underneath the brand new guidelines, races requiring site visitors management should now start earlier than 7:30 a.m. and end round 10 a.m., transferring up begin occasions from the earlier 8 or 9 a.m. launches, based on town authorities. The sooner ending is meant to ease commuter complaints attributable to extended highway closures.
The town additionally banned alcohol corporations from sponsoring occasions, citing a mismatch between the spirit of athletics and alcoholic branding. Till final 12 months, beverage makers similar to OB Beer and HiteJinro sponsored marathons and distributed nonalcoholic beer to runners.
To keep up public order and security, the rules set capability limits for main public venues: 15,000 members at Gwanghwamun Sq.; 12,000 at Seoul Plaza; 9,000 at Yeouido Park; and seven,000 at World Cup Park. Organizers who fail to wash up litter on roads after races will face penalties.
Marathon secretariats are required to show contact info on banners to enhance grievance dealing with and set up water stations each 2 to five kilometers. Ambulances should even be organized — at the least 12 for half marathons and 6 for 10-kilometer races. Sound ranges should even be saved beneath 65 decibels by banning DJing, marching bands and digital sound methods.
The town defined the measures as “unavoidable insurance policies to reduce inconvenience for residents,” noting that Seoul hosted 530 marathons final 12 months alone.
In a transfer to show early mornings into more healthy city areas, Seoul can also be reviewing the introduction of a “car-free morning” program subsequent spring, modeled after Kuala Lumpur’s weekly initiative that closes key metropolis roads to autos from 7 to 9 a.m. for residents to jog or cycle freely.
