KAIST Runner Collapses 500 Meters from Marathon Finish Line... Hwang Youngjo: "You Have to Know When to Give Up"

KAIST graduate student dies during Seoul Race
Hwang Youngjo: "Your physical condition matters more than your time"

A woman in her 20s who was taking part in a marathon in downtown Seoul collapsed and died just 500 meters from the finish line. Hwang Youngjo, an Olympic gold medalist and coach at the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, urged runners to avoid reckless competition to improve their times and to run safely.

On October 12, the Seoul Race Organizing Committee said on its official website that "an emergency occurred at around 8:49 a.m. on October 11, when a participant in the Seoul Race half marathon collapsed at the 20.6-kilometer mark." It added, "After receiving emergency treatment at the scene, the participant was taken by a 119 ambulance to a medical facility for treatment, but sadly passed away." The committee also said, "We offer our deepest condolences to the bereaved family as they face this sudden loss."

Running two hours every day... Graduate student passionate about marathons

The participant who died was identified as Yoo Jiwon, a woman in her 20s who was researching artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors at the graduate school of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). She reportedly balanced her studies with exercise and regularly took part in marathons.

Appearing on a YouTube channel specializing in running last March, Yoo said she started running in 2022 and began seriously working to improve her times in the summer of 2025. She kept up a routine of arriving at the lab at 9 a.m., finishing her research and classes, and then running for about two hours from 8 p.m. Some days, she returned to the lab after exercising.

Following the sudden news of her death, messages of remembrance poured in on video of her interview during her lifetime and on her social media accounts. Online users expressed their sorrow, saying, "She was a wonderful runner whom I always admired and cheered on," and "It breaks my heart to hear of the loss of such a promising young person."

Hwang Youngjo: "Even elite athletes withdraw... You have to know when to stop"

As the running craze spreads and marathons are held across the country, accidents and other incidents have also continued to occur. On September 19, a man in his 40s collapsed and died while climbing Geombongsan during a BLACKYAK mountain marathon event in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. The 46-year-old man had entered a course of about 7.61 kilometers and was found in cardiac arrest. He was airlifted to a hospital by fire department helicopter but ultimately died.

Hwang Youngjo, coach at the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation. Coach Hwang's YouTube.

As safety concerns grow over marathon participants, calls are mounting to guard against reckless competition to improve times. Hwang Youngjo, who won the marathon gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, voiced concern over fatal incidents during marathons and stressed that runners should avoid entering races without adequate preparation or becoming fixated on their times.

On October 13, Hwang said on his YouTube channel that even professional athletes withdraw from competitions if they feel unwell during a race. Unlike elite athletes, who train sufficiently on a regular basis, recreational participants sometimes enter races when their bodies are not ready because of factors such as lack of sleep or work-related stress, he said.

"People who know when to give up are the ones who run well," Hwang said, stressing that rather than insisting on finishing at all costs, it is important to assess one's condition and know when to stop.

He also warned against pushing too hard to improve times. "Accidents happen because of times, rankings, ambition and reckless racing," he said. "Many people try to overcome their limits because a marathon is said to test human limits, but problems arise for recreational and amateur runners."

He also called on event organizers to strengthen safety management. Hwang said emergency response systems at some events were inadequate and stressed the need to create conditions for prompt emergency care, including deploying ambulances in a manner suited to the size of the field and the course.

He also referred to the trend of sharing marathon times on social media and competitively trying to lower personal bests. His point was that since running is an activity for good health, enjoyment and safety should come before times.

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