The 21st Damyang Metasequoia National Marathon will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Chuseong Stadium in Damyang, Jeollanam-do, with the opening ceremony at 10:00 AM and the start at 10:30 AM. Registration runs through October 20, 2026, and the organizer states that there is no extended or on-site registration.
🌲 Racing Through Korea’s Tree Country
Damyang is known across Korea for its trees. The Metasequoia-lined road is one of the country’s best-loved scenic roads, and the stadium’s own address sits on Gwanbangjerim-gil, a street named after the old riverside forest that runs through town. The Damyang Metasequoia Marathon takes that setting and turns it into a morning run, with two short distances, 8K and 5K, that suit travelers and casual runners as much as running-club members.
This is a community-run race. It is organized by the Damyang Marathon Club with support from Damyang County and the Damyang County Sports Council. The organizer’s website carries a 2006 copyright notice, and this is the 21st edition, so it is a long-running local tradition rather than a new commercial event. A notice from the 2024 edition even asked participants to understand that it is a running-club level event, so expect a relaxed small-town atmosphere, simple organization, and local gift certificates as prizes instead of cash.
For international runners, the appeal is the destination as much as the race. The practical hurdles are the Korean-language registration site and a bank-transfer-only payment, which we explain below, along with a way around them.
📅 Event Overview
- Event name: 21st Damyang Metasequoia National Marathon
- Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Schedule: Opening ceremony 10:00 AM, start 10:30 AM. Bib pickup is on race morning and runs until 9:30 AM at the operations headquarters.
- Venue: Damyang Chuseong Stadium, 69 Gwanbangjerim-gil, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do
- Distances: 8K and 5K
- Registration period: September 22 – October 20, 2026 (online only; no additional or on-site registration)
- Organizer and host: Damyang Marathon Club
- Supported by: Damyang County and the Damyang County Sports Council
One rule worth knowing: for safety, the organizer may refuse entry to anyone who is found to be drinking alcohol before the race.
🗺️ Course Details
Both distances start and finish at Chuseong Stadium. The organizer lists the routes as a series of waypoints rather than a written description, and adds that the course may change, so treat the following as the current plan and check the official course page before race day.
🏃 5K
Chuseong Stadium, then Hyanggyo Bridge (first turnaround), then Jangseung Junction, which is marked as the 5 km turnaround point, and back to the stadium.
🏃 8K
Chuseong Stadium, Hyanggyo Bridge (first turnaround), Jangseung Junction (the 5 km turnaround point), through the Meta-gil underpass, a farm road near Geumwol Bridge (second turnaround), back through the Meta-gil underpass, Hyanggyo Bridge (third turnaround), and the finish at the stadium.
📊 Course Analysis and Difficulty
The organizer does not publish an elevation profile, so we cannot give you a confirmed climb count. What the waypoints and past notices tell us is that this is a mixed-surface course. A 2024 organizer notice, written for the same stadium, advised runners to choose shoes suited to dirt paths, and it noted that part of the route runs along the Metasequoia road. The 8K passes through the Meta-gil underpass (apparently short for the Metasequoia road) twice, while the 5K listing does not mention it. The 8K also has three turnarounds, so expect to pass runners heading the other way and plan your pacing around that.
Both distances are short, and no cut-off time is published, which makes the race approachable for beginners. Note that earlier editions of this race included a 10K, while this year’s listing has only the 8K and 5K, so check the latest information if you are comparing results from past years.
💰 Entry Fees and Timing
| Distance | Entry fee | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 8K | 30,000 KRW | No chip; self-recorded certificate |
| 5K | 30,000 KRW | No chip; self-recorded certificate |
There is no timing chip at this race. Instead, runners get a “self record certificate”, so bring a watch and note your own time. Rankings for the prize placements are decided by gun time.
The official site lists payment by bank transfer only, to a Gwangju Bank account held in the name of the race’s executive committee chair; see the official page for the current account details. Payments must be made in the participant’s own name (or the group name or representative’s name for group entries), and registration is complete only after the organizer confirms your deposit. A 2024 notice added that card payment and cash receipts are not available.
📝 Registration Information
- How to register: online at the official website (www.metarun.kr). Individual and group applications are available.
- Deadline: October 20, 2026. There is no extended or on-site registration, and you cannot change your event after registration closes.
- Early closing: in 2024 the organizer capped entries at about 500 paid participants for safety reasons, and more than 640 had applied by mid-October that year. This year’s listing does not state a cap, but registering early is the safe choice.
- Bib pickup: on race morning only, until 9:30 AM at the operations headquarters.
- Students from Damyang: local students can take part free of charge (without the souvenir) if they register on the website and a teacher sends the organizer an official letter listing the teacher’s name and contact details. The guideline is five students per teacher.
- Questions: use the bulletin board on the official site or email [email protected]. The office is open on weekdays, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, closed for lunch and on weekends.
📝 Do you need help with registration?
Sports Event Korea can help overseas runners register for Korean races. Send a registration request
🏆 Awards, Souvenirs and Thank-You Gifts
Every runner receives a finisher medal and a 10,000 KRW Damyang Love gift certificate. A 2024 organizer notice explained that this voucher can only be used in Damyang, so the easy way to spend it is on food or souvenirs in town after the race.
| Place (men and women, each distance) | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 100,000 KRW Damyang Love gift certificate + certificate |
| 2nd | 90,000 KRW gift certificate + certificate |
| 3rd | 80,000 KRW gift certificate + certificate |
| 4th | 70,000 KRW gift certificate + certificate |
| 5th | 60,000 KRW gift certificate + certificate |
Prizes are presented on stage. The organizer also hands out special awards, worth about 20,000 KRW in souvenirs, to four teams chosen on the day from categories such as seniors, migrants, runners with disabilities, and youth. In addition, ten people who post a review of the race on a blog or similar site by November 26 are chosen to receive a souvenir worth about 20,000 KRW.
🚌 How to Get There
The venue is Damyang Chuseong Stadium, 69 Gwanbangjerim-gil, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do. Use Naver Map or Kakao Map with the Korean name (담양 추성경기장) for exact navigation.
- From Gwangju: a bus timetable site lists around 15 departures a day from Gwangju Integrated Bus Terminal (U-Square) to Damyang Public Bus Terminal, taking about 37 minutes for roughly 2,900 KRW. The first bus is at 7:30 AM. Timetables change, so confirm before you travel.
- From Incheon Airport: the same site lists only two direct buses a day from Incheon Airport Terminal 1 to Damyang, at 8:35 AM and 6:55 PM, taking about 3 hours 37 minutes. The morning bus would arrive after the 10:30 AM start, so arrive the day before.
- Parking: a 2024 organizer notice said there is a large parking area around Chuseong Stadium and suggested allowing about ten minutes to walk from where you park.
Check the distance from the bus terminal to the stadium on a map app, or take a taxi if you are short on time. Staying overnight in Damyang before the race also gives you time to see the Metasequoia road.
🎽 Preparation Tips
👟 Shoes
Because the course includes dirt sections, a pair of road shoes with a bit of grip is a better choice than racing flats. Wear shoes you have already trained in.
⌚ Bring Your Own Watch
With no timing chip, your watch is your official clock. Start it at the gun and stop it as you finish, and record your time for the certificate.
💧 Drinks and Snacks
The organizer’s current listing does not mention aid stations. A 2024 notice recommended that runners bring their own drinks and snacks, so plan on carrying anything you need.
🧘 Warm-Up and Injury Prevention
Use the time before the 10:30 AM start for dynamic movements such as leg swings, hip circles, and easy jogging, and leave longer static stretching for after you finish. Early November mornings in southern Korea are often cool, so keep a warm layer for before and after the race.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is this race suitable for beginners?
Yes. The distances are 5K and 8K, no cut-off time is published, and the atmosphere is a relaxed community event.
Can I register on race day?
No. The organizer states that there is no additional or on-site registration, and registration ends on October 20, 2026.
Can I pay by credit card?
The official site lists bank transfer only. International runners can use our registration support service to pay by PayPal instead.
Is my time officially recorded?
There is no timing chip. Runners receive a self-recorded certificate and time themselves. Prize placements are decided by gun time.
Can I get a refund?
Only if you request it during the registration period, through the bulletin board, and it is subject to a 5,000 KRW deduction. After registration closes, no refunds are given.
What happens if it rains?
The organizer does not publish a weather policy. Check the bulletin board on the official site close to race day, especially because part of the route is on dirt paths.
Where do I collect my bib?
At the operations headquarters at the stadium on race morning, by 9:30 AM. Bibs are not mailed in advance.
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