Seoul International Marathon
The main gate to Gyeongbokgung Palace on Gwanghwamun Plaza, where the race begins
DateMid-March
LocationSeoul, South Korea South Korea
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
Established1931/1964/1993
Course recordsMen's: 2:04:43 (2022)
Ethiopia Mosinet Geremew
Women's: 2:18:04 (2022)
Romania Joan Chelimo
Official siteSeoul International Marathon

The Seoul International Marathon, also known as the Dong-A Ilbo Seoul Marathon or Seoul Marathon is an annual marathon race that takes place in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of two annual races over the 42.195 km classic distance in the city, alongside the JoongAng Seoul Marathon which is held in November.[1] It holds World Athletics Platinum Label Road Race status.[2] First held in 1931, it is the third longest-running road running competition in Asia after the Hakone Ekiden and Chugoku Yamaguchi Ekiden in Japan.[3]

The race has been integral to the elite level of the sport in Korea, as ten of the 28 South Korean national records in the marathon have been set at the competition.[4] The day's races attract around 35,000 people on a yearly basis.

History

The genesis of the competition is traced back to the Youngdungpo Marathon, which was first held in 1931. It was not a true marathon and the looped course in the city measured roughly 50 ris (around or 23.3 km). The race was contested between fourteen of the country's top male runners and Seoul's Kim Eun-Bae won the first edition. Kim and the 1933 winner Sohn Kee-chung both went on to compete at the Olympic marathon, although they did so under the flag of Japan as Korea was part of the Japanese empire at that time.[5]

This fact contributed to the suspension of the 1937 race: the event's sponsor, Korean broadsheet the Dong-A Ilbo, censored the Japanese flag in its reports of Sohn's marathon victory at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the ruling Japanese military junta responded by suspending both the newspaper and the race.[6] The race returned as an annual fixture from 1938 to 1940 but was again discontinued, initially due to World War II and later because of the Korean War. The race returned in April 1954 and Im Jong-Woo became the first person to win twice, taking back-to-back victories in 1954 and 1955.[7]

The competition's first official full-length marathon was contested in 1964 and the change brought about improvements in the national standards as Lee Myeong-Jeong set a South Korea record to win in 1965 and Kim Bong-Nae became the first Korean to run under two hours twenty minutes a year later.[8] At the 1970 edition, Canadian Ron Wallingford and two Japanese runners provided the race with its first international competitors. The quality of the field saw domestic runner Kim Cha-Wan react with a national record run of 2:17:34.4 to win the race. Kim improved his mark again in 1973 and went on to become the Dong-A Marathon's most prolific winner, scoring four victories in the 1970s.[6][9] Japanese marathoner Toyoichi Masuda became the first foreign winner in 1977 and he was soon joined by his countryman Makoto Matsuzaki, who won two years afterwards. A women's 10 km race was added to the programme in 1979 and Moon Ki-sook became the first women's Dong-A champion.[10]

Im Eun-Joo won a women's 30 km race in 1981 and female runners were allowed to take on the full marathon distance the following year.[6] She went on to claim three straight marathon titles from 1983 to 1985.[11] The 1982 race hosted a dual domestic and international race, with results kept separate for the divisions.[6] In anticipation of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the city also hosted separate international races from 1983 up to 1987 (which was the IAAF World Marathon Cup race).[12] The Dong-A competition in the 1980s saw the men's record reach 2:12 territory through Jang-hee Lee in 1987.[11]

With the advent of another decade, Won-Tak Kim brought the men's record down to 2:11:38 in 1990, winning the Asian Marathon Championship which was hosted within the race that year. Hwang Young-cho, Seoul's winner in 1991, went on to take the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.[13] Kim Wan-gi reduced the national record further to 2:09:25 in 1993. The marathon was moved to Chuncheon for the 1992 event and had a seven-year stint in Gyeongju from 1993 to 1999. It returned to Seoul in 2000,[6] but its impact in the latter city led to the creation of the Gyeongju International Marathon.[14]

The event took on a more international nature from 1994 onwards, renaming itself the Dong-A International Marathon; following the invitation of runners from twelve countries, Manuel Matias of Portugal became the first winner from outside of Korea and Japan.[15] The marathon reached a landmark of over 10,000 starters in 1999 as 11,303 runners signed up for the full distance in the elite and popular races.[16]

China's Wei Yanan brought the women's record down to 2:25:06 in 2002, knocking over five minutes off the previous course best. Gert Thys had two consecutive victories in 2003 and 2004 (recording a record time of 2:07:06 in the latter), but a third win in 2006 was erased after he failed a drugs test for the banned steroid norandrosterone.[6] The runner-up Jason Mbote was declared the winner, but after a protracted legal battle Thys had his ban overturned in 2012 due to a breach of the rules in the way his sample was handled.[17] At the 2002 edition, Zhou Chunxiu of PR China became the seventh woman to ever finish under two hours and twenty minutes as she set the women's record at 2:19:51 hours.[18] Kenyan runner Sylvester Teimet beat the men's record in 2010 with his win in 2:06:49 hours.[6] Three Kenyans went under this time in 2012, with Wilson Loyanae's time of 2:05:37 hours knocking more than a minute off the record.[19]

The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all runners receiving a full refund.[20][21]

Course

The route crosses the bridge over the city's Han River.

The competition begins at Gwanghwamun Plaza in the city centre and finishes within the Olympic Stadium.[22][23] The course has a point-to-point format and traces a south-easterly path through the city centre. After departing from the main plaza, the route flows into Sejongno thoroughfare and passes the statue of Yi Sun-sin. The runners then pass the Namdaemun gateway and head through Cheonggyecheon park. The route traces a pass through Dongdaemun-gu district before crossing the Han River to head towards the stadium finishing point.[24]

Past winners

Pre-marathon

Sohn Kee-chung won the competition in 1933, three years before his Olympic marathon win.

Key:   14.5-mile race   15-mile race
Note: All other years approx 25 km (16 mi)

Edition Year Men's winner Time (h:m:s)
1st 1931  Kim Eun-bae (JPN) 1:22:05
2nd 1932  Byun Yong-han (JPN) 1:21:51
3rd 1933  Sohn Kee-chung (JPN) 1:24:03
4th 1934  Yoo Jang-choon (JPN) 1:20:34
5th 1935  Lee Tae-woo (JPN) 1:22:43
6th 1936  Oh Dong-woo (JPN) 1:20:11
— 1937 Banned
7th 1938  Yoo Koan-huang (JPN) 1:29:09
8th 1939  Ji Young-ryung (JPN) 1:28:12
9th 1940  Hyun Jung-hyo (JPN) 1:29:02
Not held from 1941 to 1953 due to World War II and Korean War
10th 1954  Im Jong-woo (KOR) 1:23:43
11th 1955  Im Jong-woo (KOR) 1:23:16
12th 1956  Han Seung-chul (KOR) 1:21:42
13th 1957  Lee Chang-hoon (KOR) 1:20:28
14th 1958  Oh Chun-taek (KOR) 1:21:15
15th 1959  Lee Sang-cheol (KOR) 1:20:12
16th 1960  Cha Dae-man (KOR) 1:20:17
17th 1961  Kang Yang-tae (KOR) 1:19:55
18th 1962  Han Jae-duk (KOR) 1:18:54
19th 1963  Kim Bong-nae (KOR) 1:21:53

Marathon

Abel Antón of Spain was among the first foreign winners.
William Kipsang became the event's first Kenyan winner in 2005.
China's Zhou Chunxiu is the current women's record holder.
Fun runners in the popular race in 2008
Race supporters in fancy dress in 2008

Key:   Course record   Asian Championship race

Edition Year Men's winner Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Time (h:m:s)
20th 1964  Lee Chang-hoon (KOR) 2:27:13.8 — —
21st 1965  Lee Myeong-jeong (KOR) 2:21:21.6 — —
22nd 1966  Kim Bong-nae (KOR) 2:19:07 — —
23rd 1967  Yu Myung-jong (KOR) 2:19:44 — —
24th 1968  Kim Bong-nae (KOR) 2:19:42.9 — —
25th 1969  Song Keum-yong (KOR) 2:20:28 — —
26th 1970  Kim Cha-wan (KOR) 2:17:34.4 — —
27th 1971  Cho Je-hyung (KOR) 2:19:15.8 — —
28th 1972  Kim Cha-wan (KOR) 2:19:34.4 — —
29th 1973  Kim Cha-wan (KOR) 2:17:01 — —
30th 1974  Moon Heung-ju (KOR) 2:16:15 — —
31st 1975  Moon Heung-ju (KOR) 2:21:09.6 — —
32nd 1976  Park Won-keun (KOR) 2:18:20 — —
33rd 1977  Toyoichi Masuda (JPN) 2:18:40 — —
34th 1978  Kim Cha-wan (KOR) 2:17:01 — —
35th 1979  Makoto Matsuzaki (JPN) 2:17:18  Moon Ki-sook (KOR) — (10 km)
36th 1980  Susumu Sato (JPN) 2:16:46 Unknown —
37th 1981  Lee Hong-yeol (KOR) 2:21:23.4  Im Eun-joo (KOR) 2:02:08 (30 km)
38th 1982  Kim Jong-yun (KOR) 2:16:58  An Chun-ja (KOR) 3:01:50
—[nb1] 1982  Lawrie Whitty (AUS) 2:14:34  Allison Roe (NZL) 2:43:12
39th 1983  Chae Hong-nak (KOR) 2:16:33  Im Eun-joo (KOR) 2:48:13
40th 1984  Lee Hong-yeol (KOR) 2:14:59  Im Eun-joo (KOR) 2:39:48
41st 1985  Yu Jae-seong (KOR) 2:15:48  Im Eun-joo (KOR) 2:45:06
42nd 1986  Yu Jae-seong (KOR) 2:14:06  Kim Mi-kyung (KOR) 2:40:41
43rd 1987  Lee Jong-hee (KOR) 2:12:21  Ahn Young-ok (KOR) 2:41:50
44th 1988  Kim Won-tak (KOR) 2:12:41  Lee Mi-ok (KOR) 2:33:14
45th 1989  Im Jung-tae (KOR) 2:15:18  Lee Mi-ok (KOR) 2:39:27
46th 1990  Kim Won-tak (KOR) 2:11:38  Lee Mi-ok (KOR) 2:37:15
47th 1991  Hwang Yeong-cho (KOR) 2:12:35  Lee Mi-ok (KOR) 2:41:43
48th 1992  Kim Jae-ryong (KOR) 2:09:30  Lee Mi-ok (KOR) 2:36:44
49th 1993  Kim Wan-gi (KOR) 2:09:25  Chung Young-im (KOR) 2:45:52
50th 1994  Manuel Matias (POR) 2:08:33  Lee Mi-kyung (KOR) 2:35:44
51st 1995  Lee Bong-ju (KOR) 2:10:58  Lee Mi-kyung (KOR) 2:38:08
52nd 1996  Martín Fiz (ESP) 2:08:25  Oh Mi-ja (KOR) 2:30:09
53rd 1997  Abel Antón (ESP) 2:12:37  Bang Seon-hee (KOR) 2:43:40
54th 1998  Kim Yi-yong (KOR) 2:12:24  Oh Mi-ja (KOR) 2:37:16
55th 1999  Hyung Jae-young (KOR) 2:11:34  Oh Jung-hee (KOR) 2:35:11
56th 2000  Jeong Nam-gyun (KOR) 2:11:29  Park Ko-eun (KOR) 2:33:06
57th 2001  Josiah Bembe (RSA) 2:11:49  Yun Sun-suk (KOR) 2:32:09
58th 2002  Atsushi Fujita (JPN) 2:11:22  Wei Yanan (CHN) 2:25:06
59th 2003  Gert Thys (RSA) 2:08:42  Zhang Shujing (CHN) 2:23:18
60th 2004  Gert Thys (RSA) 2:07:06  Lee Eun-jung (KOR) 2:26:17
61st 2005  William Kipsang (KEN) 2:08:53  Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) 2:23:24
62nd 2006  Gert Thys (RSA) 2:10:40[nb2]  Zhou Chunxiu (CHN) 2:19:51
63rd 2007  Lee Bong-ju (KOR) 2:08:04  Wei Yanan (CHN) 2:23:12
64th 2008  Sammy Korir (KEN) 2:07:32  Zhang Shujing (CHN) 2:26:11
65th 2009  Moses Arusei (KEN) 2:07:54  Robe Guta (ETH) 2:25:37
66th 2010  Sylvester Teimet (KEN) 2:06:49  Amane Gobena (ETH) 2:24:13
67th 2011  Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 2:09:11  Robe Guta (ETH) 2:26:51
68th 2012  Wilson Loyanae (KEN) 2:05:37  Feyse Tadese (ETH) 2:23:26
69th 2013  Franklin Chepkwony (KEN) 2:06:59  Flomena Chepchirchir (KEN) 2:25:43
70th 2014  Yacob Jarso (ETH) 2:06:17  Helah Kiprop (KEN) 2:27:29
71st 2015  Wilson Loyanae (KEN) 2:06:11  Guteni Shone (ETH) 2:26:22
72nd 2016  Wilson Loyanae (KEN) 2:05:13  Rose Chelimo (KEN) 2:24:14
73rd 2017  Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:05:54  Margaret Agai (KEN) 2:25:52
74th 2018  Wilson Loyanae (KEN) 2:06:57  Damte Hiru (ETH) 2:24:08
75th 2019  Thomas Kiplagat (KEN) 2:06:00  Desi Mokonin (BHR) 2:23:44
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak[21]
2021
76th 2022  Mosinet Geremew (ETH) 2:04:43  Joan Chelimo (ROM) 2:18:04

Notes

  • nb2 An international race and a domestic race were held simultaneously in 1982, with results being kept separately for each category.[6][25]
  • nb2 At the 2006 edition, Gert Thys was initially disqualified as the winner for a doping infraction. Second placed Jason Mbote of Kenya was considered the winner until 2012, when Thys had his ban overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Jalava, Mirko (2005-11-07). Kiplagat takes 2:08 course record victory in Seoul. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  2. ↑ World Athletics Platinum Label Road Racing. IAAF (2011). Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  3. ↑ Longest Running Road Races. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (2011-03-08). Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  4. ↑ Dong-A Seoul Int`l Marathon ready to join world`s elite. Dong-A Ilbo (2010-03-08). Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  5. ↑ History (pg. 1). Dong-A Marathon. Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Seoul International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (2010-03-23). Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  7. ↑ History (pg. 2). Dong-A Marathon. Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  8. ↑ History (pg. 4). Dong-A Marathon. Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  9. ↑ History (pg. 6). Dong-A Marathon. Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  10. ↑ History (pg. 7). Dong-A Marathon. Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  11. 1 2 History (pg. 9). Dong-A Marathon. Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  12. ↑ Heyworth, Malcolm (2011-03-09). IAAF World Cup Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  13. ↑ Asian Championships Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (2013-03-02). Retrieved on 2013-09-28.
  14. ↑ Kenyan Marathoners Sweep Gyeongju Marathon. The Dong-a Ilbo (2007-10-22). Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  15. ↑ History (pg. 10). Dong-A Marathon. Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  16. ↑ History (pg.11). Dong-A Marathon. Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  17. 1 2 Haumann, Riel (2012-01-13). Court Clears South African Marathoner Gert Thys. Competitor. Retrieved on 2012-01-13.
  18. ↑ Turner, Chris & Jalava, Mirko (2006-03-14). Zhou Chunxiu becomes seventh woman to run a sub-2:20 Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  19. ↑ Yelena Kurdyumova and Sergey Porada (2012-03-18). Loyanae cruises 2:05:37 to shatter course record in Seoul. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-03-24.
  20. ↑ "서울마라톤". Seoul Marathon (in Korean).
  21. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-03-01. Retrieved 2020-03-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ↑ 2011 Seoul International Marathon Information. Dong-A Marathon. Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  23. ↑ "World-class runners to compete in Sunday's Seoul Int'l Marathon". Korea Herald. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  24. ↑ Course Map. Dong-A Marathon (2011). Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
  25. ↑ AIMS 1982–2007: 25 Years of Running History. Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (2007). Retrieved on 2011-03-19.
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