The Herald Business-organized 10-kilometer race was held Sunday at Daegu Stadium in Suseong-gu, with Kyobo Life joining as a partner.
The 2026 The Race Daegu 10K marathon was held Sunday morning at Daegu Stadium in Suseong-gu, Daegu, in the fresh air of early summer.
Organized by The Herald Business and managed by Spormax Korea, the event drew more than 5,000 runners from across the country, all competing in the single 10-kilometer category and sharing the values of health, challenge and unity.
The field ranged from competitive runners chasing personal bests to health-conscious citizens, families and running club members, adding to the festive atmosphere of the event.
The 10-kilometer course began at the east plaza of Daegu Stadium, wound past Daegu Meister High School and the Daegu Digital Innovation Promotion Agency, and looped back to the starting point.
The venue buzzed with energy from early morning. Registration, baggage storage and commemorative photo opportunities opened at 7 a.m., an hour before the gun, followed by a warm-up session and opening ceremony that built anticipation among participants.
Temperatures hovered around 18 degrees Celsius on race day, but overcast skies brought a relatively cool breeze, giving runners favorable conditions as they lined up with their individual goals. At 8 a.m., the starting signal sent runners surging onto the course in three groups — A, B and C. Participants settled into their own paces as they pushed toward the finish line, buoyed by cheers from spectators and support from volunteers stationed along the route.
The results drew considerable attention. In the women's 10K, Jeong Sun-yeon took first place with a time of 37 minutes and 11 seconds. Jeon Su-jin finished second in 39:18, and Yoo Hwan-young crossed the line third in 43:46.
In the men's 10K, Park Han-sol claimed the top spot with a time of 33 minutes and 2 seconds. Han Hyeon-jun and Park Ji-ung followed in a close finish to take second and third, respectively. The event also drew praise for its organization: medical and safety personnel were deployed at key points along the course, and ample water stations were set up throughout. Photo zones and activity spaces inside the venue gave participants and their families additional ways to enjoy the day.
Close cooperation from the city of Daegu, the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency, the Daegu Suseong Police Station and the Suseong-gu district office helped the 2026 The Race Daegu 10K conclude without a single safety incident.
Kyobo Life participated in the race as an official partner. The company's involvement aligns with the customer-protection management philosophy championed by Shin Chang-jae, Kyobo Life's chairman and chief executive.
Shin has long drawn a parallel between life and a marathon. "Just as a marathon has uphill and downhill stretches, life is a winding journey filled with the joys and sorrows of birth, aging, illness and death," he has said. "Just as a marathon runner needs a pacemaker, life insurance companies and their agents must faithfully serve as pacemakers — helping customers overcome adversity and run their life's race all the way to the finish line."
Kim Jung-ho, Kyobo Life's Daegu regional head and executive director, thanked all runners and citizens who took part in the event. "I hope this Daegu race serves as an opportunity to spread a healthy running culture and invigorate sports in the region," he said.
Kim Hyung-gon, executive managing director of The Herald Business, said he hoped the day's challenge would leave participants with lasting memories. "The powerful energy created by the runners who took part today will breathe new vitality into downtown Daegu," he said, "and I hope it remains in history as one more meaningful sports festival."
kbj7653@heraldcorp.com
