The 2026 Gangnam Half Marathon, officially the 17th Gangnam-gu Mayor’s Cup Athletics Competition, will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Daechi Yusuji Sports Park in Seoul’s Gangnam District. It has two distances, a 10K and a half marathon, with the half starting at 7:30 AM and the 10K at 7:40 AM. Registration runs through Friday, October 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM, and each distance is listed with a capacity of 500 runners.
🏙️ Running Through Gangnam
Gangnam is one of Seoul’s best-known districts, and most visitors only see it from a car or a subway window. On race day, the stream path that locals use for their daily walks and runs becomes the course. The routes follow the Yangjae Stream (Yangjaecheon), and the organizer describes them by their bridges, Yeongdong Bridges 1 to 6.
The race is hosted by the Gangnam-gu Sports Council and organized by the Gangnam-gu Athletics Federation. It grows out of a district athletics competition that has now run for 17 editions, and the organizer calls it an urban running festival. The official site and registration are run by Comport (컴포트), the company whose name appears on the payment account and on the reward gear.
The start area has its own story. Daechi Yusuji Sports Park began as a flood-control reservoir, and the district converted it into a sports park with football, basketball, and tennis courts. It is a practical base for a race: open space for the start, with the stream path right beside it.
📅 Event Overview
- Event name: 2026 Gangnam Half Marathon (17th Gangnam-gu Mayor’s Cup Athletics Competition)
- Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026
- Schedule: event opens 7:00 AM, half marathon starts 7:30 AM, 10K starts 7:40 AM
- Venue: Daechi Yusuji Sports Park (대치유수지 체육공원), Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Distances and capacity: half marathon (listed as 21.8 km), 500 runners; 10K, 500 runners
- Registration period: September 14 – October 23, 2026, 5:00 PM
- Host: Gangnam-gu Sports Council. Organizer: Gangnam-gu Athletics Federation
🗺️ Course Details
The organizer publishes the courses as a list of bridges plus map images. Both distances start and finish at Daechi Yusuji Sports Park, and neither route leaves the stream path.
🏃 10K
Daechi Yusuji Sports Park, then Yeongdong Bridge 6, turning around at Yeongdong Bridge 2, then back past Yeongdong Bridge 6 to the finish at the park.
🏃 Half Marathon (21.8 km)
From the park, the route passes Yeongdong Bridges 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 to a turnaround, returns past Bridges 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 to a second turnaround, and the organizer notes that this course is run in two laps before the finish at the park.
The organizer lists the half marathon as 21.8 km, which is longer than the standard 21.0975 km. Keep that in mind if you compare your time with other half marathons.
📊 Course Analysis and Difficulty
This is a city-stream course, so the terrain is flat and the main challenge is the number of turns. The half marathon repeats its out-and-back stretch twice, so you will pass other runners many times, and you should plan your pacing around the turnarounds. The stream’s lower path is shared by walkers and cyclists on a normal day, so check the organizer’s notices about how the path is managed during the race. Gangnam-gu’s own list of the stream’s scenic spots includes a ginkgo-tree path near Yeongdong Bridges 5 and 6, which makes the autumn setting a bonus.
The official pages do not state a time limit, aid-station locations, or the timing method, so confirm these with the organizer before race day.
💰 Entry Fees and Payment
| Distance | Entry fee | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Half marathon | 65,000 KRW | 500 runners |
| 10K | 60,000 KRW | 500 runners |
The official site lists payment by bank transfer to an IBK account held in the name of Comport Co., Ltd.; see the official page for the current account details. The deposit name has a required format: write your name followed by the last four digits of your phone number (a name plus 1234, for example). A different format can delay confirmation.
📝 Registration Information
- Two steps are both required: first submit the online application form, then pay the entry fee by bank transfer.
- Pay within 2 days: if you submit the form and do not pay within 2 days, your application is cancelled automatically.
- Confirmation: a confirmation text message is sent within 2 to 3 days after your payment.
- Payment without a form: the office has posted a notice about people who paid but never submitted the form. Without the form, the organizer cannot send you the bib, souvenirs, or key race announcements.
- Refunds: no refunds are given after registration closes.
- Bib and souvenirs: the organizer sends them to registered runners, so you will need an address where you can receive them. If you are travelling from abroad, ask the organizer how overseas runners should receive their kit.
- Questions: the organizer’s inquiry channel is Comport’s Channel Talk.
Do you need help with registration?
Sports Event Korea can help overseas runners register for Korean races. Send a registration request
🏆 Prize Money
The organizer shows a single prize table for the overall awards of the half marathon and the 10K, with men and women judged separately.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 300,000 KRW |
| 2nd | 200,000 KRW |
| 3rd | 150,000 KRW |
| 4th | 100,000 KRW |
| 5th | 50,000 KRW |
🎁 Rewards for Every Participant
The reward page lists two items for every participant:
- A dedicated race singlet in a blue-to-orange gradient, with the Comport logo and the words “Don’t wait to do something” on the back
- One pair of running socks, given at random from two models, the Achilles Pro or the Coolfit Korea Pro, each shown with a retail price of 30,000 KRW
The page does not mention a finisher medal, so check with the organizer if you want to know whether finishers receive one. The designs shown are product images and may differ slightly from the final items.
🚇 How to Get There
The official pages do not include directions or parking information. The venue is Daechi Yusuji Sports Park in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu. For navigation, search for its Korean name, 대치유수지 체육공원, in Naver Map or Kakao Map. Gangnam is well served by subway and bus, but the event opens at 7:00 AM and the half marathon starts at 7:30 AM, so check first-train times and your route in a transit app the day before. Asking the organizer about parking before you drive is a good idea, because none is announced.
🎽 Preparation Tips
🧥 Dress for a Cool Morning
Early November mornings in Seoul are often cool. Wear a warm layer to the venue and plan what to do with it before the start, since the organizer does not mention baggage storage.
👕 Try the Singlet First
Every runner receives a race singlet. If you plan to run in it, wear it on a training run first to check for chafing.
🔁 Pace for the Turns
The half marathon is run in two laps with several turnarounds. Start a little conservatively, and use the passing runners as company rather than a reason to speed up.
💧 Hydration
Because aid stations are not described, drink well before the start and consider carrying a small bottle for the half marathon.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is this race suitable for beginners?
The 10K is a good choice for a first race, and the course is a flat stream path. The half marathon suits runners with some long-run experience.
Is the half marathon a standard 21.0975 km?
No. The organizer lists it as 21.8 km.
Can I pay by credit card?
The official site lists bank transfer only, and the deposit name must follow the format described above.
What happens if I pay but do not submit the application form?
Your registration is not complete, and the organizer cannot send you the bib, souvenirs, or race announcements. Submit the form as well.
Can I get a refund?
Not after registration closes on October 23. If you submit the form and do not pay within 2 days, the application is cancelled automatically.
What is the time limit?
No time limit is published. Ask the organizer if you are planning a slower pace.
Is there a finisher medal?
The official reward page lists a singlet and socks and does not mention a medal.
What happens if it rains?
The organizer does not publish a weather policy. Check its official site and Channel Talk close to race day.
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