25th Hapcheon Cherry Blossom Marathon Concludes Successfully... Strengthening Its Status as a Leading National Sports Festival with 12,000 Participants

by Choi Sungkyung

Published 30 Mar.2026 08:40(KST)

Registration Closed in 49 Minutes

Over 10,000 Runners from Outside the Region

Hapcheon County in South Gyeongsang Province announced that the 25th Hapcheon Cherry Blossom Marathon, held on March 29 at the Hapcheon Public Stadium and the "Hapcheon 100-ri Cherry Blossom Marathon Course," concluded successfully with nationwide participation.

This event was hosted by the Hapcheon County Government and organized by the Hapcheon County Sports Association, with a total of 11,726 participants completing registration. Notably, registration closed just 49 minutes after opening, demonstrating the high level of interest and demand for the event.

The 25th Hapcheon Cherry Blossom Marathon Photo

Of the total participants, 10,023 were from outside the region, accounting for over 85 percent of all runners, reaffirming the marathon’s status as a national-level sporting event.

The marathon began at 9:30 a.m. with the full course, followed by the half course, 10 km, and 5 km races. Participants ran along the "Hapcheon 100-ri Marathon Course," which is lined with fully bloomed cherry blossoms, experiencing a race in harmony with the natural scenery.

Despite the large number of participants, the event concluded without a single safety incident, thanks to the establishment of pre-event safety plans, on-site management, and an effective medical response system. This achievement is attributed to systematic operations combined with the cooperation of local residents.

Participants also gave positive feedback on the course environment and overall event management. Many expressed their intent to participate again, citing the beautiful cherry blossom scenery, well-organized race routes, convenient facilities, and reliable guidance systems.

The Hapcheon County Sports Association plans to continue strengthening the quality of event operations, focusing on enhancing participant convenience and advancing safety management measures.

Yoo Dalhyeong, President of the Hapcheon County Sports Association, stated, "With so many participants visiting from all over the country, we were able to reaffirm the status of our event," adding, "We will continue to improve safety and operational excellence to develop the marathon into a sustainable event."

Photos from the 25th Hapcheon Cherry Blossom Marathon

Kim Yuncheol, Governor of Hapcheon County, commented, "The Hapcheon Cherry Blossom Marathon has become a signature regional event that combines sports and tourism," adding, "We will strengthen our operational capabilities to maximize the economic revitalization effects by linking the event with stay-type tourism in the future."