Marathon Craze Among MZ Generation: Is Just Showing Up Enough? From Entry Fees to Gear, It's All About the Money [Chosun Price Records]

(39) Marathon Entry Fee 70,000 to 100,000 KRW

As running becomes the trend sport among the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), more people are participating in marathon events. Until the mid-2010s, the entry fee for full marathons (42.195km) rarely exceeded 50,000 KRW, but recently, with rising prices, the fees have jumped to between 70,000 and 100,000 KRW.

According to the Marathon Online website, which shares marathon schedules, the number of marathons held nationwide has been increasing year by year: 346 in 2022, 358 in 2023, and 389 in 2024. The three major marathons in Korea are the Seoul Marathon also known as the Dong-A Marathon (Dong-A Marathon), the Chuncheon Marathon, and the JTBC Seoul Marathon. The Dong-A Marathon, which started in 1931, is the oldest marathon in Korea. Approximately 18,000 runners participate in the full course and about 20,000 in the 10km course annually, totaling around 38,000 participants, making it the largest marathon event in the country.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The representative "autumn marathon" is the Chuncheon Marathon, affectionately called "Chunma." It began in 1946 and is usually held during the peak autumn foliage season in October, earning it the nickname "Legend of Autumn" among runners. This year, the event attracted about 20,000 participants, with 11,056 in the full course and 9,651 in the 10km race.

The JTBC Seoul Marathon is famous for its signature course that crosses Seoul. The route starts at Sangam World Cup Stadium and finishes at the Peace Plaza in Olympic Park. This year, about 35,000 runners participated, with 15,000 in the full course and 20,000 in the 10km race. This marathon has been held annually since 1999.

Price Increase Due to Inflation... What Are This Year’s Marathon Entry Fees?

The entry fee for the Dong-A Marathon ranges from 70,000 to 100,000 KRW depending on the package and course. Nine years ago, in 2015, the full course fee was 50,000 KRW, but it has roughly doubled since then. The Chuncheon Marathon’s full course fee was 40,000 KRW ten years ago but was adjusted to 80,000 KRW starting in 2023, a 10,000 KRW increase. The JTBC Marathon also raised its fees by 10,000 KRW in 2022, currently charging between 70,000 and 80,000 KRW depending on the course.

Marathons hosted by sports brands often have even higher entry fees. New Balance’s Run Your Way Marathon is known for its generous souvenirs and is considered a "cost-effective event," but the 10km Run Your Package costs 70,000 KRW, and the Trainer Package is priced at 249,000 KRW, which is higher than the three major marathons. The Marvel Run Seoul 2024, held last October by The Walt Disney Company and Sportsmax Korea, charged 60,000 KRW for the 10km race.

The rise in marathon entry fees is due to increased overall costs. As prices have risen year after year and marathon popularity has grown, the scale of events has expanded, leading to higher operational and management expenses.

The JTBC Seoul Marathon office stated in a notice about the fee adjustment in March last year, "Full-course marathons held in Seoul require tremendous preparation and resources. Recently, due to worsening sponsor environments and increased costs, it has become difficult to prepare for the event. Since investments in participant safety and event quality cannot be reduced, we had no choice but to adjust the entry fees within the minimum necessary range."

"Sports Depend on Equipment"... 'Running Gear' Is Even More Expensive

Many think that marathon running only requires running shoes, but the cost of equipment is also significant.

First, carbon shoes, sought after by runners aiming to improve their records, refer to high-performance running shoes with a "carbon plate" (carbon fiber plate) embedded in the midsole. They became famous when Eliud Kipchoge (40, Kenya) wore them at the 2018 Berlin Marathon. In 2019, Kipchoge ran the full marathon in 1 hour 59 minutes 40 seconds wearing Nike carbon shoes, breaking the "magical barrier" of completing a marathon in under two hours.

Nike's 'Air Zoom Alphafly 3 Next% 3 Sail Black' carbon shoes (Alphafly 3) were recently traded for 465,000 won on the secondhand trading platform KREAM. The release price of the Alphafly 3 is 329,000 won.

Since then, carbon shoes have become very popular among runners, often requiring a premium to purchase. Nike’s "Air Zoom Alphafly 3 Next% 3 Sail Black" carbon shoes (Alphafly 3) recently sold for 465,000 KRW on the secondhand platform Cream. The retail price of Alphafly 3 is 329,000 KRW, but due to high demand, a premium of about 140,000 KRW was added. Asics’s carbon shoes "Metaspeed Edge Paris Sunrise Red Black" (Metaspeed) recently traded for 459,000 KRW, while their retail price is 299,000 KRW.

Running-specific smartwatches used to measure athletic performance are also priced higher than general smartwatches. They are specialized for running, equipped with GPS, speed, distance, and wrist-based heart rate monitoring. Garmin’s Forerunner 165 series costs 459,000 KRW, and the Forerunner 965 series goes up to 819,000 KRW. These are more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (44mm), which sells for around 400,000 KRW.

Kim Hyun-wook, an office worker who recently started running, said he has spent a considerable amount since entering the marathon world. He said, "There is a battery difference between general smartwatches and running-specific ones. General smartwatches cannot last through running sessions. Also, GPS accuracy differs, so because of these performance differences, I look for running-specific smartwatches." Kim added, "There are essential running gear items like knee braces, socks, and running belts, so consumable equipment should not be overlooked."