Finding Community in Gwangju Through Running

“I came across a group called Running Running (러닝러닝) in Suwan (수완) that ran every Tuesday and Thursday night. With hopeful anticipation, I arrived early. Slowly the club members started arriving and welcomed me warmly. They all ran at varying paces, but we started and finished together. The leader invited me to consider running in the upcoming 11th Gwangju Peace and Unification Marathon (제11회 광주평화통일마라톤대회), announcing that they all signed up for the 10-km  race. I signed up that night.”

Hwasun’s Nineteenth Annual Marathon

On the first weekend of November, the county of Hwasun was host to the 19th Annual Dolmen Marathon (제19회 화순 고인돌 마라톤 대회). In addition to being surprisingly well attended, it was one of the most well-organized, exciting, and high-energy race events that I’ve attended in about a decade.

Jun Woong-tae: Leading Korea in the Modern Pentathlon

South Korea has been participating in the modern pentathlon in the Olympics since 1964, but it was only 57 years later, at the Tokyo Olympics, that Korea finally won a medal. Jun Woong-tae, who is originally from Seoul but represents Gwangju as a member of the City Hall club, earned a bronze medal for Korea, making it the first-ever medal for the country, and finished the competition with 1,470 points. To Jun, his bronze medal is as valuable as winning gold. However, he aims to have the Taegukki (태극기, Korea’s national flag) fly even higher in future Olympic Games. Aside from the bronze, Jun has also won four gold medals at UIPM World Championships and another gold at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

Trail Running in South Korea

Written by Ryan Thompson Run a little; walk a little. Take in the world around you. Be accepting of the fact you cannot go much faster. You are where you … Read More

The March First National Marathon

Written and photographed by Lee Suk Pei   When I had just arrived in Gwangju, the weather was still quite suitable for running, and there were a number of marathon … Read More

Gwangju Reunification Marathon Run

The Sunday morning sun was rising up to reveal a beautiful, slightly foggy landscape of rice fields and mountains out in the distance by the Gwangju Airport. Racers warmed up around the starting line as the races prepared to set off in rapid succession; the half-marathon, the ten kilometer and then the five kilometer.