[Busan Heritage Run] Foreign Runners Fall for Dadaepo's Coastal Route... 10,000 Run with Gusto

From Cheerleaders to the Closing Performance, a Festival Atmosphere Filled the Air
Runners of All Nationalities and Ages United... A Race Safely Completed

Dadaepo Beach, embraced by the autumn sea, filled with the cheers of more than 10,000 runners. The 2026 Busan Heritage Run, held on Nov. 8, got underway in a festive atmosphere even before the start, with participants running in hopes of having the heritage of Busan as Korea's wartime provisional capital inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Hosted by The Asia Business Daily and sponsored by the Juspeace Foundation and UNESCO, the event featured two courses, 5 km and 10 km, and part of the entry fees will go toward a fund to protect cultural heritage.

Participants in the 10km race at the 2026 Busan Heritage Run, held in the Dadaepo area of Busan on the 8th, power past the starting line. Photo by Heo Younghan

At around 8 a.m., comedian Kim Wonhyo and announcer Park Jihye, who hosted the event, quickly energized the crowd on the stage in front of the starting line. After the Lotte Giants cheerleaders finished their warm-up, Kim called out, "Make some noise!" and drew cheers from the audience. He also joked with participants hurrying late to the starting line, saying, "You watched the Busan Fireworks Festival yesterday and spent all morning wondering whether to run today, then barely made it here, didn't you?" His playful quip had the crowd in stitches.

Participants from across the country enjoy a performance by La Percussion before the start of the 2026 Busan Heritage Run, hosted by The Asia Business Daily and sponsored by the Juspeace Foundation and UNESCO, at Dadaepo Beach in Saha-gu, Busan, on the 8th. Photo by Cho Yongjun

The foreign runners who crossed borders and raced along the coast also stood out. Factory workers Ricky, 25, and Chris, 37, who is from the Philippines, came over by boat from Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, and ran 5 km while enjoying Busan's scenery. Nelly, 25, an English teacher from South Africa, finished the race in 32 minutes and 3 seconds. Yumiko, 34, a Japanese woman from Osaka who had come to Korea alone and joined the event, praised the race, saying it was far more special than races back home because she could run while looking out at the sea.

In the fierce competition for places, engineer Jeon Changil, 32, was the first to cross the finish line in the 5 km event, with a time of 17 minutes and 27 seconds. "The tailwind on the way back made it easier to run, and I was happy with the course because it was safe," he said. In the 10 km race, Bae Jiheon, 31, finished second by a narrow margin, with a time of 33 minutes and 48 seconds. "I let go of the pressure to place and ran comfortably, and I ended up with a good time," Bae said. Kim Chaewon, a 13-year-old girl who completed the 5 km course in 28 minutes, was also pleased to have kept running all the way to the finish.

The 2026 Busan Heritage Run, hosted by The Asia Business Daily and sponsored by the Just Peace Foundation and UNESCO, was held at Dadaepo Beach in Saha-gu, Busan, on the 8th. The 10-kilometer winner crosses the finish line among about 10,000 participants from across the country. Photo by Jo Yongjun.

At the Asia Business Daily membership booth set up at one side of the event site, a long line formed for people hoping to get a nostalgic prize-drawing ticket and an energy bar. The coffee truck in front of Shinhan Bank's Heritage Zone was also bustling. After the race, the percussion group La Percussion took the stage for a celebratory performance, bringing the festivities to a close.

Jeong Janghyeon, a 40-year-old Dadaepo resident, said, "Since this was such a special coastal race, I definitely want to take part again next year."

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