Seoul Half-Marathon Claims Life of Running Influencer Yoo Ji-won

Popular running influencer, Yoo Ji-won, tragically passed away after collapsing a mere 500 meters from the conclusion of a half-marathon event. The 25-year-old South Korean, who was also a graduate student at KAIST, was participating in the 2026 Seoul Race on Sunday, October 11. Yoo Ji-won was well-known for documenting her running experiences and sharing them with her extensive online community.

According to a statement issued by the organizing committee on Monday, she lost consciousness at approximately 8:49 a.m. on Sunday, having completed about 20.6 kilometers of the half-marathon distance during the 2026 Seoul Race. A standard half-marathon typically covers 21.0975 kilometers. An official from the race discovered her unconscious on a downtown street, specifically close to the Jonggak subway station, prompting an immediate call to emergency services.

CPR was administered to her before she was transported by ambulance to a hospital. Regrettably, she did not regain consciousness and died shortly after. The committee released a statement saying, "We pray for the repose of the deceased and extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved family facing this sudden sorrow." They also indicated their commitment to thoroughly investigating the incident and implementing necessary measures.

While an initial comment from a race official to local media hinted that Ms. Yoo might have collapsed due to overexertion, no official conclusions regarding the cause have been made public yet. The event, jointly organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper, saw approximately 12,000 participants. Runners competed in both the half-marathon and a shorter 11-kilometer (6.8-mile) race, traversing central Seoul and passing prominent landmarks like Gwanghwamun and the historic eastern gate, Heunginjeongmun.