Event set for Oct. 9 at Sejong Central Park
Two courses: 10.9 km and 5.15 km
Herald Media Group and the Sejong Special Autonomous City will begin accepting registrations for the 2026 Hangul Run on a first-come, first-served basis starting Wednesday, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the designation of Hangul Day.
Now in its third year, the Hangul Run will be held on the morning of Oct. 9 — Hangul Day — at Sejong Central Park. A flagship cultural, sports and tourism program representing Sejong as a hangul cultural city, the event takes participants on a run through the heart of the city, starting from the urban festival grounds at Sejong Central Park.
The two courses remain unchanged from last year: 10.9 kilometers, symbolizing Hangul Day, and 5.15 kilometers, commemorating the birthday of King Sejong the Great. All participants will receive a North Face T-shirt and other hangul-themed commemorative items marking the 100th anniversary of Hangul Day.
This year's run takes its theme from an archaic word found in the Hunminjeongeum Eonhabon — "ᄉᆞᄆᆞᆾ다" (sаmatda) — to broaden the meaning of love for hangul. The word, which carries the senses of "to permeate" and "to pierce through," has been reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. The organizers say the event aims to convey the value of connection and empathy through running, with the idea that hearts can reach and resonate with one another.
Last year's Hangul Run drew about 10,000 participants, with 70 percent coming from outside Sejong, establishing the event as a leading K-content attraction for the city. This year's run will be held in conjunction with the 2026 Sejong Hangul Festival, allowing participants to enjoy a range of festival programs beyond the race itself.
Registration opens Wednesday through the event's official website, exactly 100 days before Hangul Day. Further details are available through the Hangul Run's official Instagram account or the organizing secretariat.
"This year is a meaningful one, marking the 100th anniversary of the designation of Hangul Day," said Yoo Min-sang, head of Sejong City's Hangul Cultural City Division. "Through the 2026 Hangul Run, we will work to spread the cultural value of hangul far and wide."
pooh@heraldcorp.com
