▲ The 2026 Chuncheon Yonhap Marathon kicks off at the Elysian Gangchon resort and along the nearby Bukhan River in Chuncheon, 85 kilometers east of Seoul, on Oct. 3, 2026. (Yonhap)

CHUNCHEON, South Korea, Oct. 3 (Yonhap) -- The 2026 Chuncheon Yonhap Marathon took place on Saturday at the Elysian Gangchon resort and along the nearby Bukhan River in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, organizers said.

The annual marathon debuted last year in Chuncheon, 85 kilometers east of Seoul, co-hosted by South Korea's key newswire Yonhap News Agency and the Chuncheon City Athletics Federation.

The marathon features three races: a half marathon (21 kilometers), 10 km and 5 km, with the goal of becoming a premier running festival that brings together runners from across the country.

Organizers aim to revitalize the local economy and breathe new vitality into the city's old downtown area by attracting thousands of runners to visit and stay in Gangchon.

Hwang Dae-il, the president and CEO of Yonhap News Agency, told the event that the marathon would play a role to help revitalize the region's commercial sector.

Also, the event helped participants run a marathon with the help of artificial intelligence analysis, drones and other technologies, Hwang said in opening remarks read by Kim Jae-hong, executive director in charge of marketing at Yonhap News Agency.

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