Seoul closes central roads on October 11 for 12,000-runner Seoul Dalligi marathon
In short
Seoul will close Sejong-daero, Jongno, Cheonggyecheon-ro and other central roads in stages on October 11 for the 2026 Seoul Dalligi (서울달리기) marathon, which the city co-hosts with Dong-A Ilbo. The city said 12,000 runners will take part in a half-marathon and an 11 km race starting at 07:30. Seoul police said 683 traffic officers and organiser staff will manage traffic, and they asked people to use public transport.
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Main roads in central Seoul will be closed in stages on October 11 for the 2026 Seoul Dalligi (서울달리기) marathon, Seoul police and the Seoul city government said. The city co-hosts the race with Dong-A Ilbo, and 12,000 runners will take part in a half-marathon and an 11 km race starting at 07:30, according to the city. Asia Economy said the race falls on a Sunday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Seoul police said on October 8 that the Sejong-daero and Jongno sections, where runners gather and start, will be closed from 05:30 to 09:00. Cheonggyecheon-ro will be closed to all vehicles from 09:18 to 11:10. Police said 683 traffic officers and organiser traffic staff will direct drivers around the closures, and 423 signs and banners will warn of the closed sections. Newsis reported that the city plans to temporarily adjust some bus routes that run through them. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
In its own announcement on October 9, the city gave different hours: Namdaemun-ro, Euljiro, Cheonggyecheon-ro and other main roads will be closed section by section from 07:10 to 11:10. The stretch from the City Hall intersection to the Sejong-daero intersection, where the start event is held, will be closed from 05:30. The city said closures will be lifted section by section once all runners have passed. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Reports describe the course differently. Police-based reports say runners leave from Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall and follow Jongno and Cheonggye-ro. Chosun Ilbo said the course turns at Gosanja Bridge (고산자교) and comes back. Kyunghyang Shinmun said both races start at Cheonggye Plaza, pass Dongdaemun Station, Sungnyemun and Euljiro, and finish at Seoul Plaza, with the half-marathon turning at Gosanja Bridge. Newsis gave Sejong-daero as the start point and Mugyo-ro as the finish. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
This is the 24th edition of the race. Half-marathon registration filled in 5 minutes and 11 km registration in 2 minutes. Newsis reported that 397 of the runners are foreigners from 48 countries. Finishers receive a medal with a hole in the shape of N Seoul Tower in the middle. Newsis said that under a city marathon guideline in force since January, the start and finish times were moved 30 minutes earlier than last year to reduce disruption. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The city said it will place safety staff on key sections and run a joint operations headquarters and medical booths. Police asked people near the course to use the subway or other public transport, and drivers to check traffic information in advance and follow officers' hand signals. Cho Seong-ho (조성호), head of Seoul's tourism and sports bureau, asked residents to cooperate with the closures and to bear with the disruption on race day. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The closures affect main roads in central Seoul from early morning until 11:10, and the city plans to adjust some bus routes. Police and city officials asked residents to plan ahead, check traffic information and use the subway or other public transport.
Key facts
- The 2026 Seoul Dalligi marathon takes place in central Seoul on October 11. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Seoul city co-hosts the race with Dong-A Ilbo. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
- 12,000 runners will take part in two races, a half-marathon and an 11 km course. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The race starts at 07:30. [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- Police said Sejong-daero and Jongno will be closed from 05:30 to 09:00, and Cheonggyecheon-ro from 09:18 to 11:10. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The city said Namdaemun-ro, Euljiro, Cheonggyecheon-ro and other main roads will be closed section by section from 07:10 to 11:10. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Police will deploy 683 traffic officers and organiser traffic staff and put up 423 signs and banners. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- This is the 24th edition of the race. [ 5 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The 2026 Seoul Dalligi marathon is held on October 11 and leads to road closures in central Seoul. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Seoul city and Dong-A Ilbo co-host the race. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
- 12,000 runners will take part in a half-marathon and an 11 km race. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The race starts at 07:30. [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- The assembly and start area on Sejong-daero will be closed from 05:30. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Cheonggyecheon-ro will be closed until 11:10. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- 683 traffic officers and organiser traffic staff will be deployed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- 423 signs and banners announcing the closures will be put up. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Half-marathon registration filled in 5 minutes and 11 km registration in 2 minutes. [ 5 , 6 ]
- Finishers receive a medal with a hole in the shape of N Seoul Tower in the middle. [ 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Where the race starts. Police reports and Yonhap say runners start from Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall. Kyunghyang Shinmun says both races start at Cheonggye Plaza, and Newsis gives Sejong-daero as the start point and Mugyo-ro as the finish.
- When the closures begin on each road. Police give 05:30 to 09:00 for Sejong-daero and Jongno and 09:18 to 11:10 for Cheonggyecheon-ro. The city gives 07:10 to 11:10 for Namdaemun-ro, Euljiro and Cheonggyecheon-ro, plus closures from 05:30 between the City Hall intersection and the Sejong-daero intersection.
- 397 foreign runners from 48 countries will take part. Only Newsis reports this figure.
- Start and finish times were moved 30 minutes earlier than last year under Seoul's marathon guideline, which has applied since January. Only Newsis reports this.
- Some bus routes through the closed sections will be temporarily adjusted. Only Newsis reports this, without naming the routes.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 8: Newsis reports the Seoul police traffic control plan for the October 11 marathon. [ 1 ]
- October 9: Seoul city's announcement of the race is reported by Kyunghyang Shinmun, Newsis and Yonhap. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- October 11: Closures begin on the Sejong-daero assembly and start area. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- October 11: Section-by-section closures begin on Namdaemun-ro, Euljiro, Cheonggyecheon-ro and other main roads, according to the city. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- October 11: The race starts. [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- October 11: Police close Cheonggyecheon-ro to all vehicles. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- October 11: Closures end. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]