Running Along Turtle Island and the Sihwa Seawall... Siheung City to Host National Half Marathon on October 5

Siheung to Host 12th National Half Marathon
Event Set for October 5; Registration Opens July 22
5,000 Runners to Race Against Turtle Island Backdrop

Siheung City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Byung Taek) will host a large-scale running festival in October, bringing together marathon enthusiasts and citizens nationwide against the backdrop of Turtle Island and the Sihwa Seawall. This year, for the first time, the event will feature a "Cosplay Run" promoting Siheung's tourism and culture, shaping the festival into a unique sports event infused with local color.

Promotional material for the 12th Siheung City National Half Marathon. Provided by Siheung City.

On July 13, Siheung City announced that the "2026 12th Siheung City National Half Marathon" will take place at 9 a.m. on October 5 around the Korea Polytechnic University Second Campus on Turtle Island. Registration opens at 2 p.m. on July 22 and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through the official website.

This event, representing Siheung City's community sports culture, will feature three race categories: a half marathon course (21.0975 km) starting from the Korea Polytechnic University Second Campus and looping around the Sihwa Seawall, as well as 10 km and 5 km events. Participants will enjoy the autumn scenery of Siheung as they run along the West Sea and the Sihwa Seawall.

The eligibility requirements are as follows: participants must be at least 19 years old for the half marathon, at least 14 years old for the 10 km event, and anyone regardless of age or gender may participate in the 5 km event. The participation fee is 35,000 won for both the half marathon and 10 km, and 20,000 won for the 5 km. A total of 5,000 participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

This year, for the first time, the "Siheung Cosplay Run" will be held, where participants will run wearing costumes and props themed around Siheung's tourism, culture, and symbols. The city will assess creativity and completeness to select and award outstanding participants.

On the day of the event, free shuttle buses will operate between Oido Station, Siheung City Hall, and the event venue to ensure convenient transportation for participants.

A Siheung City official stated, "We hope that this event, set against the backdrop of Turtle Island and the Sihwa Seawall, will serve as an opportunity to showcase the charm of Siheung to marathon enthusiasts and citizens across the country," adding, "We look forward to your interest and participation."

Detailed information and registration instructions can be found on the official event website.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.