Uijeongbu-si, Dong-O Masil Run Scores Perfectly in Revitalizing Local Commercial Districts

75% of Participants Dined in Dong-o Village
Excellent Case of Collaboration with Local Businesses

The first-ever river marathon event in Uijeongbu, ‘Dongo Masilrun (RUN)’, which successfully concluded on the 19th of last month, is also being credited with significantly contributing to the revitalization of the local commercial district.

Participants of the Dong-O Masil Run in Uijeongbu City. Provided by Uijeongbu City

Gyeonggi Province’s Uijeongbu City (Mayor Kim Dong-geun) announced on the 6th that 75% of the participants in the Dongo Masilrun held on the 19th of last month around Buyongcheon and Jungnangcheon rivers dined in Dongo Village.

Organized and hosted by Uijeongbu City, the Dongo Masilrun was planned not just as a simple marathon event but to revitalize the local commercial district and to create an inclusive atmosphere for people of all ages and genders.

In particular, the start and finish points were set in connection with the Dongo Village festival held on the same day, ‘Dongo Masil Festa’, guiding participants’ footsteps toward the local commercial district.

At the Dongo Masil Festa, marathon participants who submitted receipts of 30,000 KRW or more along with their bib numbers were refunded 10,000 KRW in local currency; 200 people received this refund. This accounts for 45% of the 441 marathon participants, generating at least 15 million KRW in marathon-related sales.

Additionally, 330 beer coupons sponsored by an alcoholic beverage company were collected. Considering that one coupon was given per person, it was estimated that 75% of the participants dined in Dongo Village.

There were many positive reviews from participating citizens. Through personal blogs, citizens shared comments such as: △They gave coffee and beer coupons to help revitalize the commercial district, so I couldn’t help but go for a beer!!! △It was great that the coupon was for a real bottle, not just a discount coupon △Dongo Elementary School is close to the light rail, making accessibility good, and there was a storage area for belongings, so it was convenient △Thanks to the well-organized course and various planned events, it was a happy day △No participation fee and finishing participants received iced Americano and beer coupons, really the best! △The storage area, changing rooms, and sports taping were all very well arranged △It was fun, and I’m really glad I signed up △I hope there will be more opportunities like this in the future.

Although three weeks have passed since the Dongo Masilrun was held, stories about the event are still being heard occasionally. For example, a marathon participant won a guerrilla prize draw at the Dongo Masil Festa.

The event organizer said, “Planning a marathon event without a participation fee was not easy, but we planned it on the assumption that participants would be absorbed into the nearby Dongo Masil Festa held on the same day,” adding, “We were confident that collaborating with the Dongo Village festival would lead to a win-win situation, and after several discussions with the Dongo Village Merchants Association and the Commercial District Revitalization Foundation officials, we were able to successfully complete the event.”

Mayor Kim Dong-geun said, “I thank the Dongo Village Merchants Association and all the citizens who participated in the Dongo Masilrun,” and added, “In the future, festivals and events in Uijeongbu City should move toward a direction where local governments, residents, and merchants’ associations cooperate organically.”