South Korea
Seoul Marathon 2027
Sunday 21 March 2027 · confirmed date
149 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 21 March 2027
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 07:30
- local time
- Course
- Flat · Point to point
- Gwanghwamun Square to Jamsil Sports Complex
- Course record, men
- 2:04:23
- Haftu Teklu, 2026
- Course record, women
- 2:18:04
- Joan Chelimo Melly, 2022
- Time limit
- 5h00
- First held
- 1931
The race
About the Seoul Marathon
The Seoul Marathon traces its roots to 1931 and is organised with the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper, which is why each edition is also numbered as the Dong-A Marathon: 2027 is the 97th. It is Korea's only World Athletics Platinum Label road race and attracts strong elite fields. In 2026 Haftu Teklu won in 2:04:23, a course record, with the top five men all inside the previous record.
Around 40,000 runners took part in 2026 across the marathon and 10 km. The course crosses the city from Gwanghwamun, near the royal palaces, to Jamsil on flat, fast roads. It suits experienced runners chasing a time, since the qualifying standard and five-hour limit make it a race for prepared marathoners.
Course
The Seoul Marathon course
The marathon starts at Gwanghwamun Square in the historic centre and heads past Sungnyemun, the old south gate of the city, before following the Cheonggyecheon stream east toward Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Later the route passes Seoul Children's Grand Park and Seoul Forest, then crosses the Han River on Jamsil Bridge and finishes at the Jamsil Sports Complex. There are no significant climbs, so the main challenges are the cold wait at the start, crowding in the early kilometres and the long, straight sections where pace discipline matters. It is a fast course from start to finish.
Race-day weather
Usually cold and dry, around 3-8°C at the start, though drizzle and a cool breeze are possible, as in 2026.
Train
Training for the Seoul Marathon 2027
21 weeks to go. A marathon plan runs 12 to 24 weeks and ends on race week. Here is when each one starts.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 5 October 2026 (already started) |
| 20 weeks | Monday 2 November 2026 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 30 November 2026 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 28 December 2026 |
For this course
A March race means a winter build, so most long runs will be cold, which suits race day well. Protect consistency with good layers and treadmill sessions on icy days, and include long runs with goal-pace blocks, since the flat course rewards even pacing. Bring throwaway clothing for the wait at the start. Seoul is eight hours ahead of France in March, so arrive four or five days early, especially as overseas runners must collect their race pack in person at the expo.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Seoul Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
International runners register online through the Dong-A Marathon Club (en.dongma.club), World's Marathons or RUNNET; for 2027, registration opened on 1 September 2026. Marathon entrants must submit an official result of 4:59:59 or faster from the previous two years, which is also used to assign start groups.
2027 registration From 1 September 2026 to 30 November 2026 · open now
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by The Dong-A Ilbo
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Seoul Marathon 2027?
The Seoul Marathon 2027 is on Sunday 21 March 2027. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the Seoul Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 30 November 2026, a 20-week plan on 2 November 2026. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
Do you need a qualifying time for the Seoul Marathon?
Yes, for the full marathon: you must submit an official result of 4:59:59 or faster. For 2027, results from 1 January 2024 to 30 November 2026 are accepted; the 10 km has no requirement.
What is the time limit for the Seoul Marathon?
The marathon has a five-hour time limit.
Is the Seoul Marathon course flat?
Yes. It runs from Gwanghwamun Square to the Jamsil Sports Complex without significant climbs, which is why it produces fast times.
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