Seoul Marathon
The Lowdown
The Seoul Marathon (Dong-A Marathon) is the world's second-oldest marathon after Boston and one of Asia's most prestigious road races. The World Athletics Label certified course is celebrated for being flat and fast, starting at Gwanghwamun Plaza against the backdrop of the 14th-century Gyeongbokgung Palace and finishing inside the historic Jamsil Sports Complex — home of the 1988 Olympic Games. The route threads through the vibrant heart of Seoul, weaving between modern skyscrapers and iconic historical sites. Cool early-spring temperatures make it an excellent race for chasing personal records. The event draws 25,000-30,000 participants from around the world alongside elite and sub-elite competitors, with tens of thousands of spectators lining every kilometer.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
World-class event
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
2027 domestic registration closed
Jun 4, 2026Domestic (Korean resident) entry for the 97th Seoul Marathon / Dong-A Marathon, first-come-first-served via Dong-A Marathon Club membership, closed on 2026-06-04. The full marathon requires a chip-timed sub-5:00:00 completion certificate within the past two years.
2027 date confirmed; overseas registration not yet open
Aug 10, 2026The 97th Seoul Marathon (Dong-A Marathon) is confirmed for Sunday, 2027-03-21, starting 7:30 AM KST at Gwanghwamun Plaza. As of 2026-08-10, the overseas/international registration window (via en.dongma.club) has not opened; the organiser has said timing will be announced separately. The official domain (en.seoul-marathon.com) is currently blocking automated fetches (403), so entry pricing for the 2027 cycle could not be directly confirmed from the primary source.
Boston Qualifier
This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.
Gwanghwamun Plaza (start)
Gyeongbokgung Palace
City Hall
Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin
Cheonggyecheon Stream
Dongdaemun
Olympic Park area
Jamsil Sports Complex (finish, 1988 Olympics venue)
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Seoul, South Korea
KR
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Marathon: chip-timed sub-5h marathon certificate required for domestic entry
- 10K: open to all without qualifying record
- Overseas marathon: limited to 200 spots
Required Documents
- Valid ID
- Marathon completion certificate (domestic marathon entry)
- Passport (international participants)
Entry Methods
- Dong-A Marathon membership registration (domestic)
- Overseas registration portal at en.dongma.club (international)
World Athletics Label Race
World's second-oldest marathon after Boston
Dong-A Ilbo newspaper has organized since 1931
Cool early-spring conditions: avg 1-10°C, breezy (avg 21 km/h wind)
Post-race concern: insufficient thermal wraps reported in recent editions — bring warm layers
Gold Package available with adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 shoes (2026 Seoul Marathon Edition)
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Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
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