"I Want to Run Like Kian84 Too" Becomes Popular but Causes Nuisance... Eventually "Running Crew Limits Members"

Introduction of a Rule Limiting Running Participants to 3-4 People

As the number of people gathering to run together as 'running crews' increases, causing inconvenience to those around them, local governments have rolled up their sleeves. Some regions are planning to implement rules restricting group running of a certain number of people or more in sports fields and parks.

Gian84 practiced marathon running with a running crew on 'I Live Alone' [Image source=MBC]

On the 1st, Seocho-gu in Seoul enforced usage rules limiting group running of five or more people at Banpo Comprehensive Sports Complex in Banpo 2-dong. The district explained, "We recommend social clubs with 10 or more members to form smaller groups of 4, 3, and 3." They also requested, "Please maintain a distance of about 2 meters or more between individuals on the track."

Banpo Comprehensive Sports Complex features five lanes, each 400 meters per lap, making it an optimized space for running. It has long been a popular spot among running crews.

A stock photo unrelated to the article content

Seocho-gu is not the only local government restricting running crews. Songpa-gu in Seoul also hung banners requesting to refrain from running in groups of three or more on the Seokchon Lake walking trail. Seongbuk-gu displayed banners stating "Keep right while walking, run in a single line," and Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province recommended refraining from running crew access on the Dongtan Lake Park walking trail.

Running crews are a type of exercise club that runs in groups through urban areas and have recently gained popularity mainly among the 20s and 30s MZ generation over the past one to two years. The number of participants in the '7979 (from 7 PM to 9 PM) Seoul Running Crew' hosted by Seoul City increased from 329 in May last year to 898 during the same period this year, more than doubling.

However, while running crews were praised for showcasing the unique exercise culture of the MZ generation, they have recently become highlighted as a source of inconvenience, causing various complaints. Some inconsiderate behaviors have been observed, such as filling narrow pathways with crews and obstructing surrounding passageways, or blocking roads to take 'certification shots.' Online, complaints such as "I can't walk on the sidewalk because of running crews" and "They occupy public spaces like their own gym" have poured in.