Running influencer Yoo Ji-won, 25, collapsed and died just 500 metres short of the finish line of a half-marathon. She lost consciousness at the 20.6 km mark of the half-marathon course on 11 October.
On-site medical staff immediately began CPR attempts before she was rushed to hospital by ambulance. She passed away later that day despite receiving treatment, the race organising committee confirmed in a statement.
Incident at the 2026 Seoul Race
The incident happened during the 2026 Seoul Race in central Seoul, South Korea. The event drew around 12,000 runners across half-marathon and shorter courses starting from Seoul Plaza.
Organisers said: "We bring devastating news to all participants who joined the 2026 Seoul Race.
"At around 8.49 am on 11 October, an emergency situation occurred when a participant in the half course collapsed at the 20.6 km mark. After immediate first aid on site, the participant was transported to a medical facility by 119 ambulance for treatment, but unfortunately, passed away."
Tributes and warnings
They added: "We respectfully pray for the deceased's peaceful rest and extend our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family facing this sudden sorrow. We will carefully examine this incident and proceed with necessary follow-up measures without fail."
The exact cause of death has not been officially disclosed. Born in 2001, Yoo was a graduate student at the prestigious Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), where she researched AI semiconductors.
She was also an active running influencer who documented her training and races on social media. While balancing rigorous lab work, her evening runs would often take around two hours.
Running career and response
She began running in 2022 and rapidly improved, completing the full Seoul Marathon on 15 March 2026 in a time of 2 hours 56 minutes and 32 seconds.
In April, she won the women's masters division of the 10 km race at the Gunsan Saemangeum Marathon.
Tributes have flooded her social media accounts from fellow runners, friends and fans. Olympic marathon gold medallist Hwang Young-jo warned runners against chasing records too aggressively, saying accidents can happen when people get greedy chasing a time.
