[Busan Heritage Run] "10,000 Participants" to Run Through History of Wartime Busan... Opens Today

5- and 10-Kilometer Races at Dadaepo Beach on Nov. 8

Participants From Across the Country, Ages Under 10 to 70 and Older

Event Supports UNESCO World Heritage Inscription of Busan as a Wartime Refuge Capital

A running festival celebrating the historical value of Busan, the “wartime refuge capital” that served as the Republic of Korea’s last bastion during the Korean War, will get underway.

The 2026 Busan Heritage Run, hosted by The Asia Business Daily and sponsored by the JusPeace Foundation and UNESCO, will be held on Sunday morning, Nov. 8, around Dadaepo Beach in Saha-gu, Busan. About 10,000 participants from across the country will run along the autumn coastline while reflecting on Busan’s historical significance.

The event was organized to highlight the historical value of Busan, which served as the temporary capital during the Korean War, and to support the inscription of the heritage of Busan as a wartime refuge capital on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is significant as a participatory festival that brings together history, culture and sports, going beyond a simple race to set records.

About 10,000 people, including 177 invited guests such as National Assemblyman Jo Kyung-tae, who represents Busan’s Saha B constituency, and Saha District Mayor Kim Tae-seok, will take on the 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer courses. Participants range in age from under 10 to 70 and older. Those in their 30s make up the largest group, with 3,250 participants, followed by 2,735 in their 40s and 1,867 in their 20s. The race will also include 142 people in their 60s and 10 aged 70 or older. By region, Busan has the most participants, with 6,326, followed by South Gyeongsang Province with 2,159 and Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province with 492.

The event’s main program will begin with an opening ceremony at 7:20 a.m. Hyun Sang-soon, chairman of The Asia Business Daily; the paper’s representatives Jang Beom-sik and Ma Young-min; Assemblyman Jo; Saha District Mayor Kim; Kim Min-kyung, chair of the Saha District Council; Cha Seong-soo, chair of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation; and Oh Hee-young, head of the JusPeace Foundation, are expected to attend.

Comedian Kim Won-hyo and announcer Park Ji-hye will host the ceremony. Afterward, cheerleaders from the Lotte Giants will lead participants in warm-up exercises, building excitement ahead of the start.

The race will begin at 8 a.m. with the 10-kilometer course. Participants will set off from Dadaepo Beach, run along the Saha-gu coast and return to the starting point. Participants in the 5-kilometer course will start in groups beginning at 8:15 a.m. Percussion group La Percussion will also perform during the race.

The event is also significant for raising awareness of the importance of protecting cultural heritage through running. Part of the participation fees will be used as donations to support cultural heritage preservation.

The JusPeace Foundation, established by singer G-Dragon, has partnered with UNESCO to run the HERITAGE IN PEACE fundraising campaign to protect World Heritage sites at risk. It is also raising funds with partner companies, including Busan-based venture firms, and preparing a city campaign to promote the 11 heritage sites in Busan that are being considered for UNESCO World Heritage inscription.

Busan served as the Republic of Korea’s temporary capital during the Korean War. It sheltered refugees who came from across the country and served as the center of political and administrative affairs, becoming an important setting in the nation’s modern history. The inscription of 11 heritage sites that preserve traces of that period, including the Provisional Capital Government Building and Busan Port Pier 1, is currently being pursued.

The Heritage Run is expected to provide an opportunity to raise awareness of Busan’s historical value and increase public interest and participation in cultural heritage preservation.

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