Chuncheon Marathon
The Lowdown
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.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Major marathon
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
Boston Qualifier
This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.
Lake Uiam (의암호) — the scenic centrepiece of the loop course
Gongji Stream Bridge (공지천교) — start and finish area
Chuncheon city waterfront and riverside paths
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Gongji Stream Bridge, Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, South Korea
KR
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age 18 on race day for the full marathon
- Korean and international runners welcome
Required Documents
- Photo ID
- Race bib (collected at pre-race packet pickup)
Entry Methods
- Online registration via chuncheonmarathon.com
- Priority waves for repeat finishers and Chosun membership holders
- General first-come-first-served registration
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Review official cancellation and refund policy at chuncheonmarathon.com before registering
IAAF Silver Label race — one of only two in South Korea (alongside Gyeongju International Marathon)
AIMS full member; course internationally certified (Uiam Lake Circuit)
Organizer: The Chosun Ilbo newspaper; co-organized with Chuncheon City and Korea Athletic Association
Founded 1946 — second oldest marathon in South Korea
Contact: chuncheon@chosun.com / +82 2 724-6333
Boston Qualifying race with IAAF-certified times
Men's course record: 2:06:15 (Luka Kanda, Kenya, 2017)
Women's course record: 2:26:12 (Kwon Eun-ju, South Korea, 1997)
Social media: @chuncheon_marathon (Instagram/Facebook)
Training for this race?
Track your training, follow a plan, and prepare for race day with MarathonOS.
Scan to download
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.