Kiwis grown in Boseong County, South Jeolla Province / Courtesy of Boseong County
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Running continues to gain popularity in Korea. Running helps reduce body fat and relieve stress, and with warmer weather encouraging more outdoor activities, events and marathons are being held with increasing frequency, fueling the craze. Interest in pre- and post-run nutrition is also rising, with people seeking foods that can replenish nutrients and fluids while aiding recovery after exercise.
According to the “Marathon Online” community website, 494 marathon events are scheduled to be held in 2026. That is about 100 more than the 394 events held in 2025 and roughly double the 248 events in 2021.
In a July 2025 survey on outdoor activities released by Gallup Korea, 31 percent of respondents aged 13 and older said they had gone running within the past year. That means about one in three people has tried running. Based on this figure, Korea’s running population is estimated to be approaching 10 million.
