Seoul Marathon to be held on Nov. 1; traffic restrictions across downtown

[Financial News] Traffic on major roads in downtown Seoul will be restricted in stages for the 2026 JTBC Seoul Marathon, to be held this coming November 1.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said on the 30th that it would impose traffic restrictions along the route from Gwanghwamun Square to Olympic Park for the Seoul Marathon, sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by JTBC.
The race will include around 200 elite athletes from Korea and abroad, 15,000 full-course participants (42.195 km), 20,000 participants in the 10-km course, and others.
Traffic will be restricted around Sejong-daero, the full-course start and gathering point, from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. Downtown sections including Jongno and Cheonggyecheon-ro will be restricted from 7:46 a.m. to 10:29 a.m., while areas around Sinseol-dong Station, Gunja Bridge, Jamsil Bridge and Olympic Park will be subject to restrictions in stages from 7:54 a.m. to 1:35 p.m.
The 10-km course will run from Sangam World Cup Park to Yeouido Park. Vehicle access along the route is scheduled to be restricted in stages from 7:20 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.
Police plan to deploy 1,825 officers, including traffic police, on race day to direct vehicles onto detours and minimize congestion. They will install 1,770 items, including guide signs and banners, around the restricted areas. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to temporarily adjust bus routes that pass through the restricted areas.
Police urged people traveling near the event route to use public transportation, such as the subway, if possible, and to take detours by following traffic officers’ hand signals when driving.
Details on traffic restriction times and detour routes can be found through the 120 Dasan Call Center, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency traffic information hotline, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Traffic Information Center website, and the ‘Seoul Police Traffic Information’ KakaoTalk channel, among other sources.

[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter