SHINee's Minho apologizes over marathon 'pushing' controversy, says he won't accept his result

SHINee member Minho has apologized after footage emerged appearing to show his pacemaker physically pushing him during a full-course marathon.

Minho, whose full name is Choi Min-ho, posted a statement Tuesday on his Instagram account saying he would not accept his result from the race. "I will not forget the lessons learned through this process," he wrote, adding that he wished to express his respect for runners who pour their sweat and effort into the sport.

The controversy arose after Minho competed in the 2026 JTBC Seoul Marathon on Sunday, completing the 42.195-kilometer full course in 3 hours, 0 minutes and 18 seconds.

It was his first full-course marathon, and the time came close to what runners call a "sub-3" — finishing a full marathon in under three hours (2 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds or faster), a milestone widely regarded among runners as a badge of honor.

After the race, footage spread online appearing to show a person believed to be Minho's pacemaker pushing him on the back with a hand during the race.

A pacemaker is a runner who accompanies a competitor to help maintain a steady pace and breathing rhythm in line with the competitor's target time.

Some users on SNS platforms including Threads questioned whether the act constituted a violation of race rules. World Athletics prohibits assistance under Rule 6.3.6 of its technical regulations, which bars athletes from receiving physical aid or propulsion from another athlete or an outside person that helps them move forward during competition.

The only exception is helping a fallen athlete back to their feet. Violations can result in disqualification.

Online opinion was divided. Some users said the behavior "should have been kept to practice, not a race," called it "a clear violation of existing rules," and said they believed it amounted to a shortcut. Others pushed back, asking "what's the problem when he's not even a professional athlete?" and arguing that the backlash itself was the real controversy.

In his Instagram post Tuesday, Minho apologized directly. "I am sorry for disappointing so many people through this marathon," he wrote. "Everything happened because of my shortcomings." He added that as someone who cherishes and loves sport, he felt deeply ashamed, and apologized again for causing concern.

"I will be more careful to make sure the same thing does not happen again, and I will work hard to always show you my best," he added.

Online debate over the controversy centered on three questions: whether Minho received help that went beyond simple pacing and was significant enough to affect his time and result, whether the footage captured constitutes a rule violation, and whether World Athletics regulations should apply in this context.

Amid the debate, Minho stepped forward to apologize and made clear he would not accept his recorded time.