Running With Strollers, Running on Trips... 'Running Craze' Spurs Overseas Run Trip Packages, Too

Running population surges
64.1% have run in the past six months
Run trip packages combining running with travel and relaxation proliferate

With the number of runners rising sharply, particularly among younger people, retailers are expanding their tailored offerings. They are drawing consumer interest with “run trips” (running + travel) that go beyond running to include eating, drinking and travel.

Park Minkyung, a runner and guide on the 2025 HanaTour Saipan Run Trip. Courtesy of HanaTour.

According to industry sources on October 30, running, which gained popularity as an outdoor activity after the COVID-19 pandemic, has seen participation rates rise year after year. In a survey titled “Perceptions of Running (Jogging) and Running Crews,” conducted in the first half of this year by Embrain Trend Monitor, a market research firm, 84.1% of the 1,000 men and women aged 13 to 59 nationwide said they felt that “more people seem to be running these days.” The share of respondents who said they had run within the past six months also reached 64.1%.

Participation was especially high among teenagers (79.0%) and people in their 20s (71.0%), followed by those in their 30s (63.0%), 40s (57.0%) and 50s (50.5%), showing strong participation across all age groups. In an interview survey conducted by Gallup Korea among 511 to 5,251 people aged 13 and older nationwide, the share who said they had jogged or run in the past year rose from 23% in 2021 to 31% last year.

During the pandemic, the running market was driven mainly by people running alone. After shifting toward challenge-based demand, such as marathons, it evolved in 2024 into “fun runs,” which prioritize enjoying the run over setting a record. As a result, run trips that involve running in new places away from everyday life while combining travel with relaxation are gaining popularity.

According to the Korea Tourism Data Lab, the share of social media mentions related to run trips rose by 598% over the four years since 2021. Unusual events have also emerged, including the “Stroller Run,” a family event hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in which parents run while their young children ride in strollers, and the “Suyuk Run” in Seoul’s Geumcheon-gu, combining running with dishes such as boiled pork and tofu kimchi.

Retailers, too, are holding events that link their brands or products with running to create more points of contact with consumers and raise brand awareness. One example is “Run a Bread Run in Seoul Forest, then head to Mildo,” a distinctive participatory event held this month at the Seongsu branch of meal°, a bakery brand operated by M’s Bakers, an affiliate of Maeil Dairies. Participants use an app with GPS tracking to complete at least one lap of the Bread Run course in Seoul Forest, about 1.4 km, then post on social media a photo of the poster on the exterior wall of the Mildo Seongsu branch and a screenshot verifying that they ran the course. They receive bread and a protein drink.

Samyang Foods recently held “Buldak Burning Festa With Phepo” in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, with around 1,000 participants, including running club members, families, friends, couples and Samyang Foods employees. Against the backdrop of Daegwallyeong’s natural scenery, the program let participants experience a range of outdoor activities, including trail running, camping and yoga, while enjoying food and relaxation.

Meanwhile, Sono International is selling the “Sono Run Trip Stay in Sono Calm Gyeongju” package through December 17. Guests can run 10 km courses at 18 Sono Hotels & Resorts across the country, then enjoy accommodation and spa facilities at Sono Calm Gyeongju.

Travel companies are targeting demand for overseas trips with run-trip packages linked to participation in international marathons. One example is HanaTour’s Hawaii run-trip package, which departs on December 11. The five-night, seven-day itinerary includes round-trip airfare, hotel accommodation, a marathon entry, and local transportation, and is centered on participation in the 2026 Honolulu Marathon. Participants can run while enjoying both Hawaii’s beach scenery and its urban atmosphere.

Yellow Balloon Tour has also launched a run-trip package for the same period that includes five nights at the Waikiki Resort, hotel breakfasts, a welcome dinner and a post-race commemorative banquet. Entry to the 10 km Honolulu Marathon is included, and customers who wish to do so can take on the full marathon. Kim Byung-hyun, a former member of South Korea’s national track and field marathon team, will accompany the group and provide pre-trip training and one-on-one feedback starting 30 days before departure. Mode Tour has introduced a “Dalat Run Trip” package combining marathon participation with local sightseeing for the 2026 Dalat Green International Marathon, which will be held in Da Lat, Vietnam, on November 22.

“Run trips are attracting attention as a new lifestyle that lets people get away from their daily routines, run in new places and create trips of their own,” an industry official said. “We plan to continue expanding run trips that center on running as a way to experience cities.”

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