Chuncheon Marathon

The Chuncheon Marathon, organized by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper, is one of South Korea's oldest and most celebrated marathons, founded in 1946 following Korea's liberation from Japanese rule. It is the second oldest marathon in the country after the Seoul International Marathon, and holds IAAF Silver Label status — one of only two South Korean marathons with this distinction. The race follows the scenic Lake Uiam (Uiam-ho) loop course, an internationally certified route that winds along Chuncheon's waterfront and riverside for a relatively flat experience, with minor elevation changes around the 5km and 30km marks. Known as the 'Legend of Autumn,' the race takes place each October when the foliage along the Gangwon Province lakeshore is at its peak. The full marathon starts at Gongji Stream Bridge (공지천교) and a 10km short course runs concurrently. Elite competitors from Kenya and other nations regularly compete, with course records of 2:06:15 (men, Luka Kanda, 2017) and 2:26:12 (women, Kwon Eun-ju, 1997). The event is a Boston Qualifier and draws thousands of domestic and international runners each year.