Course Map
About this Race
The Seoul Marathon is one of Asia's elite races and among the fastest courses on the continent, a largely flat route through the South Korean capital that starts near Gwanghwamun Square and finishes inside the Jamsil Olympic Stadium. The course runs on wide, smooth roads past palaces and the Han River, with a gentle profile that consistently yields quick times and strong international fields. Held in March, it offers cool, favorable spring conditions and the polished organization typical of a top-tier Asian marathon. The few rises are minor, leaving fitness and pacing as the main determinants. It suits the PB-focused runner who wants a fast course and an Olympic-stadium finish without the lottery odds of the bigger majors.
Course Insight
Seoul is a flat, fast spring course that runs along the Han River through a modern city built for quick times, finishing inside the 1988 Olympic Stadium. With the terrain offering no natural brakes, holding back early is entirely self-imposed. Cold March air keeps legs fresh and fast if you're dressed to start cool and warm into it. The riverside straights can carry a breeze worth sheltering from in a pack. Pace it evenly and the stadium finish becomes a celebration rather than a struggle.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to very flat.
Course Details
- Course type
- Point-To-Point
- Elevation gain
- 93m
- Elevation loss
- 114m
- Highest point
- 45m
- Lowest point
- 17m
- Net elevation
- -21m
- Start
- Gwanghwamun, Seoul
- Cutoff time
- 5h 0m
Course Records
- Men's
- 2:04:23 — Haftu Teklu (Ethiopia), 2026
- Women's
- 2:19:09 — Haven Hailu Desse (Ethiopia), 2026
Race History
The Seoul Marathon, run by the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper, traces its roots to 1931, making it one of the oldest marathons in Asia. It developed into one of the continent's premier elite races, run on a fast course finishing inside the Jamsil Olympic Stadium. Over the decades it opened into a major mass-participation event while retaining a deep competitive heritage. Held each March, it now draws large fields and quick times to the South Korean capital.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Seoul Incheon (ICN), Gimpo (GMP)
- Best area to stay
- Myeongdong for central hotels and shopping near the route, Gangnam for upscale modern stays, and Hongdae for hip, affordable digs.
- Getting to the start
- The start is near Gwanghwamun; take the Subway to Gwanghwamun or City Hall and walk in, with the finish at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium.