Seoul’s Waterside Marathons Are a Hit

Seoul’s Cheonggye Stream and the Han River were the backdrop to the fourth Hi-Seoul Marathon (hosted by Seoul Metropolitan City and sponsored by Dong-A Ilbo) yesterday, which was held in commemoration of the first anniversary for Cheonggye Stream restoration.

Three race courses, including a 10-kilometer course between City Hall plaza and the Cheonggye Stream, a 22.3-kilometer course through Jungrang Stream to the Han River, and a 42.195-kilometer course, saw a total of 9,000 participants, who in the race along the Cheonggye Stream and the Han River shared love for the handicapped.

From Hyundai Engineering and Construction (HEC), a total of 164 people (full course: 1, 22.3 kilometers: 21, 10 kilometers: 142), including marathon club members, held a charity race. They completed the race and then gave one bag of rice grown at Hyundai farm in Seosan City, South Chungcheong Province. They also contributed a total of 250 bags along with 86 bags from their company to Yangcheon Welfare Foundation and Eden Welfare Foundation.

The HEC carried out a good conduct to practice “the management principle of coexistence and sharing.” In addition to this race performance, the HEC has set up sisterhood relationships with regional communities at around 120 construction sites nationwide.

Cha Seung-woo (42) and Lee Yong-sool (44), blind persons, had run for the handicapped under more unfavorable conditions. Cha and Lee had participated in the full course wearing shirts imprinted with the logo of the Prume Foundation that helps the handicapped rehabilitate. They are also handicapped persons, but intended to serve as signboards for the Prume Foundation by using their normal legs.

A dramatic situation happened that Cha and Lee was repeatedly calling “Prume Foundation” while running, and other citizens also followed them.

Runjoy Jamsil Marathon Club member Kim Ji-chan (53) and Yoo Young-joon (48) spent a meaningful day as volunteers running with their arms tied with Cha and Lee respectively. A total of 12 Seoul Gwanghwamun Facing Team members, including Shin Sang-heon (47), volunteered for pacemakers, serving the function of a “guide” for Masters participants.

GM Daewoo Motors, which had given one Cerato to Seongdong Welfare Center last year, offered one Matiz to Seodaemun Welfare Center this year as well.

Oh Jeong-geun (28) won the men’s full course race with a record of two hours 35 minutes 13 seconds. For women, Kim Young-a, the “running public relations woman” of Korea Exchange Bank, made the best record of two hours 58 minutes 20 seconds. In the 22.3-kilometer race, Choi Gwang-soo (41, one hour 22 minutes 35 seconds) and Kim Jeong-ok (50, one hour 31 minutes 24 seconds) won the men’s and women’s in each. The winners of the men’s and women’s 10-kilometer race were Pil Dong-man (39, 33 minutes 21 seconds) and Kim Yoo-mi (32, 38 minutes 44 seconds), respectively.

Meanwhile, Seoul City mayor Oh Se-hoon (45), who had completed a triathlon and is known as a competitor in every sport, joined the 10-kilometer race. Oh said before starting, “I’m very excited to run together along the Cheonggye Stream and the Han River, famous places in Seoul. I will develop these places where citizens can get a higher qualify of life in Seoul.”

yjongk@donga.com jaeyuna@donga.com