From April to October, a nighttime running program centered around the city and the Han River will be operated.
Courses will be organized into systematic levels, and the program aims to spread the ‘Run Ticket’ culture among citizen runners.
Seoul has begun operating the ‘7979 Seoul Running Crew’ starting April 10th to meet the increasing demand for running among citizens. This nighttime running program is open to anyone from beginners to advanced runners, and last year, 4,711 people participated in this urban citizen sports project.
The program operates from April to October and takes place every Thursday evening from 7 to 9 PM at three locations: Cheonggye Plaza, Banpo Hangang Park, and Yeouido Park. Participation is free, and you can register in advance on the Dongma Club website or sign up on-site. Up to 60 people can participate per location.
Cheonggye Plaza is designed for beginners with a focus on city runs, Banpo Hangang Park offers courses for intermediates aiming for a 10 km finish, and Yeouido Park caters to advanced runners looking to improve their records. Each running course is managed by professional track and field athletes, including former national team members, who will serve as coaches, with pacers running alongside to ensure safe conduct.
Additionally, Seoul will also operate seasonal special programs with event runs like Watermelon Run, Picnic Run, and Trail Run. Relevant schedules and course information are announced every Monday on the official SNS.
The city intends to spread the ‘Run Ticket’ culture that emphasizes pedestrian consideration among program participants. Basic signals, how to handle unexpected situations, low-noise running, and public etiquette-focused running manners will be introduced through prior education.
Seoul seeks to simultaneously promote citizens’ daily health and the culture of running through this program. Koo Jong-won, the Director of Seoul’s Tourism and Sports Bureau, stated, “We aim to promote running as an urban sport that anyone can easily participate in, ensuring all citizens enjoy a healthy and vibrant daily life by continuously expanding the program.”