'Bukangi Dad' to Three-Generation Families... Laughter Fills Dadaepo [Busan Heritage Run]

Family Runners Gather to Make Memories...
71-Year-Old Grandmother Runs 5K Hand in Hand with Her Granddaughter
Son Runs Alongside His Mother on Her Birthday

Participants who valued being together over setting records filled the starting line of a running event hosted by The Asia Business Daily. They ran with stories of their own, from parents pushing strollers to a grandmother taking on the challenge with her granddaughter and a son matching pace with his mother, who is about to undergo surgery.

A couple runs with their child in a stroller at the 2026 Busan Heritage Run, held in the Dadaepo area of Busan on the 8th. Photo by Heo Younghan.

At the 2026 Busan Heritage Run, held on the 8th around Dadaepo Beach in Saha-gu, Busan, Song Junyeop, 47, stood out in a shark-shaped inflatable costume as he took on the 5-kilometer course with his family.

Song, who took part in the event with his wife, Jeon Hyejin, 43, their son, Song Woohyeon, 12, and their daughter, Song Yuna, 10, ran with his children for the first time after taking up running about a year ago. He chose the unusual costume himself so the children would enjoy the race and complete it without getting tired. "Bukangi has been popular lately, so I chose a shark costume," Song said. "It motivated us, and we were able to run while having fun together."

A runner in an unusual outfit takes part in the 2026 Busan Heritage Run, hosted by The Asia Business Daily on Nov. 8 at Dadaepo Beach Park in Saha-gu, Busan. Nov. 8, 2026. Photo by Kang Jinhyung.

A mother and son also took to the course together for her birthday. Lee Seongyul, 34, who lives in Dadaepo, Busan, took part in the event with his mother, Park Hyeondeok, 56, whose birthday was that day.

Lee, who was born with congenital heart disease, wanted to give his mother, who is about to undergo surgery for severe cataracts, the gift of running together for her birthday. "I signed us up with the hope that my mother would be my heart and I would be her eyes, and that we would move forward together," Lee said. "I wanted to give my mother courage before her surgery." Park said, "Whenever my legs hurt and I wanted to give up, the other participants cheered me on, so I was able to finish the race."

Runners participating in the “2026 Busan Heritage Run,” hosted by The Asia Business Daily on the 8th around Dadaepo Beach Park in Saha-gu, Busan, race ahead. Photo by Kang Jinhyung.

Kim Heeja, 71, who lives in Dongnae-gu, Busan, took part in the event with her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, who is in third grade. Even for Kim, who exercises regularly, running with her granddaughter was a special experience. "My granddaughter got tired at times, but I was proud that she persevered to the end," Kim said. "It was a new experience for three generations to take part together, and the weather was nice, so we had a great time running."

Kim Heeja (right), who completed the race at the 2026 Busan Heritage Run hosted by The Asia Business Daily near Dadaepo Beach Park in Saha-gu, Busan, on the 8th, poses for a commemorative photo with her daughter. Photo by Kang Jinhyeong.

The 2026 Busan Heritage Run, hosted by The Asia Business Daily and sponsored by the Juspeace Foundation and UNESCO, was organized to promote the historical significance of Busan, which served as South Korea's wartime capital during the Korean War, and to support the inscription of related heritage on the UNESCO World Heritage List. About 10,000 participants from across the country enjoyed the beautiful coastal scenery of Dadaepo along the 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer courses while reflecting on the significance of Busan as the wartime capital.

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