'Mourning run' photos for deceased runner spark debate: 'Bizarre' vs. 'a runner's way of grieving'

A runner in her 20s collapsed and died during a marathon in downtown Seoul, just 500 meters short of the finish line. The tragedy has since sparked an online debate after some runners began sharing "mourning run" photos on social media to honor her memory.

On Friday, a post by one runner showing a "mourning run" certification photo spread across SNS. The runner wrote that she was "mourning deeply."

"On Saturday, in the early morning, I ran from where I was to honor runner Yoo Ji-won," the post read. "I ran feeling the hearts of a fellow runner and of her parents, and I offer my deepest condolences." The runner added, "We will run the remaining 500 meters for you. May you rest in peace."

The post included a certification screenshot showing a 25-kilometer run completed in two hours and 29 minutes, along with a memorial image. Some questioned its sincerity and called it "inappropriate."

"It's bizarre. I want to respect that it's their way, but running in the early morning and posting it on SNS just seems strange," one user wrote. Others joined in, saying, "They wouldn't have done it if SNS didn't exist," and "I don't understand why you'd post it on SNS when you could just mourn quietly on your own."

Others, however, argued the practice should be understood as a form of mourning unique to running communities. In practice, there are overseas examples of runners honoring the deceased by running a route the person loved or organizing memorial run events.

In 2022 in the United States, running communities across the country completed a run in tribute to Eliza Fletcher, who was killed while running. The Wythenshawe Community Running group in Manchester, England, held a memorial run in 2023 to honor fellow runner Mike Dunn, who died that year, and later organized a commemorative 10-kilometer race in his name.

"You may not understand, but runners mourn and pay tribute in a runner's way," one runner wrote. However, some noted that posting certification photos on SNS has not yet become a widely accepted mourning practice.

Earlier, a woman in her 20s competing in the half-course of the 2026 Seoul Race on Sunday collapsed near Cheonggyecheon-ro, close to Jonggak Station in Seoul, about 500 meters from the finish line.

She received emergency treatment at the scene and was transported to a hospital, but did not survive. It was later revealed she was Yoo Ji-won, a running influencer enrolled at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), deepening the sense of loss.

"We offer our deepest condolences and extend our heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family, who are facing this sudden grief," the organizing committee said. "The organizing committee will carefully review all related matters and continue to take necessary follow-up measures."