555m Korea's Tallest Vertical Marathon... Lotte World Tower "Skyrun" Successfully Concludes

From a 16-Month-Old Baby to a 77-Year-Old, 2,100 Participants Join
Many Unique Runners Including Firefighters and Foreigners
"Kids Skyrun" for Parents and Children Also Popular
Last Year's Men's Champion Ahn Bongjun Wins Second Consecutive Title

Lotte World Tower announced on April 20 that it has successfully concluded the country's tallest vertical marathon, the "2025 Lotte World Tower Skyrun with SPYDER."

2025 Lotte World Tower Skyrun with Spyder finishers are crossing the finish line. Photo by Lotte Corporation

The Skyrun is a vertical marathon in which participants climb a total of 2,917 stairs from the 1st to the 123rd floor of Lotte World Tower, reaching a height of 555 meters. To date, a cumulative total of 10,000 people have participated in the event, establishing it as a unique marathon in Korea.

This year, a total of 2,100 participants joined the event, including both competitive and non-competitive categories. The age range was diverse, from a 16-month-old baby carried by a parent to the oldest participant at 77 years old. At the opening ceremony, Lotte Corporation CEO Jang Jaehoon said, "Skyrun is a beautiful challenge that brings hope to children undergoing rehabilitation treatment in Korea through the donation of participation fees," and added, "I support all participants heading to the highest point in Korea today."

The event also saw 25 Seoul firefighters climbing the stairs in full firefighting gear. Foreign participants from about 18 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, India, and Malaysia, also took part. In particular, the "Global Seoul Mate," a group of foreign influencers organized by the Seoul Tourism Organization, participated and enjoyed the unique experience of walking up Korea's iconic landmark. Diana Durante, a participant from Mexico, said, "Skyrun seems to be a truly unique experience that can only be enjoyed in Seoul."

Participants of the 2025 Lotte World Tower Skyrun with SPYDER are cheering before the start. Photo by Lotte Corporation

The "Kids Skyrun," held for the second time following last year, attracted 50 teams. In this division, each team consists of one adult guardian and one child. This year, about 5,000 people applied, resulting in a competition rate of 100 to 1.

In the competitive division, last year's men's champion, Ahn Bongjun, claimed his second consecutive victory with a time of 18 minutes and 32 seconds, while Kim Hyeonja topped the women's category with a time of 21 minutes and 08 seconds. Ahn said, "I promised to break into the 18-minute range this year, and I'm happy to have achieved my goal. I will participate again next year and challenge myself to reach the 17-minute mark."

Trophies, Lotte gift certificates worth 1.23 million won, Signiel Seoul dining vouchers for two, and Spyder products worth 300,000 won were awarded to the top three male and female winners in the competitive division. All finishers received a finisher's kit containing a medal, a digital certificate of completion, beverages, and snacks. All participation fees from the event will be donated to the Bobath Children's Rehabilitation Center, operated by the Lotte Medical Foundation.