A marathon organized by NGU, led by former Gyeonggi Province Gov. Nam Kyung-pil, brought together people in recovery from drug addiction to run 6.26 km — and to keep going, together.
By Kim Do-yoon, The Herald Business
"I am a methamphetamine addict. There was a time when I thought, 'Am I like a delisted stock — worthless?' and 'Can I even live without drugs?' I was ready to give up on life. My parents, who once believed that an addict is always an addict, now hold onto a sliver of hope and cheer me on. I will never give up on breaking free from drugs."
A, a 26-year-old who has been drug-free for 10 months, did not hide his past. Methamphetamine, which he first tried out of curiosity in his first year of high school, had unraveled his life — but he has since acknowledged his addiction and begun walking the road to recovery. He stepped up to the marathon starting line carrying a pledge to break free from drugs.
About 80 people gathered the morning of June 27 in front of Hwangsaeul Park in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. NGU (Never Give Up), a drug prevention and recovery group, organized the event to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26. The marathon course was set at exactly 6.26 km to reflect that date. It was not a race for rankings. The point was simply to cross the finish line — no matter how long it took.
Nam Kyung-pil, head of NGU and former governor of Gyeonggi Province, ran alongside his eldest son Nam Ju-seong, who once struggled with drug use, as well as citizens and people in recovery who share a commitment to tackling the drug problem.
Recovery communities including Incheon DARC, Busan NA and Jeju Sunoreum Healing Center also took part, as did singer Don Spike, singer Bumkey, comedian Lee Seong-mi, DAPCOC (a university-based drug and addiction prevention center), and Jo Seong-nam, former head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's drug management center.
When the starting signal sounded at 9 a.m., participants set off running along Tancheon stream.
Past the 2 km mark, foreheads glistened and shirts darkened with sweat. Breathing grew labored. Some participants began to slow, but no one was left behind. When one person in recovery struggled to catch their breath, another runner fell into step beside them and said, "Let's go together."
Those who finished early waited at the finish line, cheering on every runner still coming in.
Around 10:30 a.m., the last participant crossed the finish line to a burst of applause. Participants took group photos and shouted their rallying cry together: "Inoma."
"Inoma" is a slogan meaning "No more drugs from now on." The group's name, NGU — Never Give Up — carries the same spirit: don't hide your addiction, ask for help, and never give up on recovery.
Kim Ha-ram, 38, a father of a fifth-grade son, came to the event with his family on June 27.
"Living in the United States for 12 years, I saw firsthand how easily drugs spread," he said. "I ran with my son because I want the world our children grow up in — in Korea and everywhere — to be safe from drugs."
Lee Ba-ul, 35, who came with about 20 fellow members of Yatap Manna Church, said it was his first time running. "I joined because it felt like a socially meaningful event," he said. "Watching the Netflix series 'Cham Gyoyuk' recently made me feel it too — teenage drug use in Korea is no longer something we can take lightly."
Lee Gyeong-u, 55, first tried marijuana in his first year of middle school, which eventually led to methamphetamine addiction. He is now 18 months drug-free. After multiple relapses and time in prison, he is rebuilding his daily life with the help of a recovery community.
"Staying clean wasn't something willpower alone could do," Lee said. "I could get this far because there were people beside me, holding me up and cheering me on. Without the recovery meetings and the community, I would still be alone."
Jo Seong-nam, former head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's drug management center, said drug addiction is not a problem that punishment alone can solve. "It is a disease that requires treatment," he said. "The sooner treatment begins, the greater the chance of recovery — and through the recovery process, people can build healthy habits and live better lives than before."
Nam Ju-seong, 35, the eldest son of NGU head Nam Kyung-pil, completed the marathon in 56 minutes on June 27 and had arrived at the park two hours before the start to help set up. "In April I ran alone, but today so many people joined and it felt completely different," he said. "I was reminded again that we draw more strength together than alone."
He added: "I am still in the recovery process myself. I get through each day by exercising, praying and focusing on my work. Through NGU, I want to contribute to solving the drug problem in Korea and around the world."
NGU plans to use the proceeds from the June 27 marathon to fund the establishment of South Korea's first hospital dedicated exclusively to drug addiction treatment.
kido@heraldcorp.com
