Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Monday that marathon races scheduled for next year in Seoul will undergo a review from "scratch," following persistent complaints over severe traffic disruptions.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon delivers an address on the city’s proposed 2027 budget and fund management plan during a plenary meeting of the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s 340th regular session in central Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap)
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon delivers an address on the city’s proposed 2027 budget and fund management plan during a plenary meeting of the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s 340th regular session in central Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap)

A nationwide running boom in recent years has turned Seoul into a weekend hotspot for running events, but frequent road restrictions from the races have sparked growing public traffic complaints.

Oh addressed major traffic disruptions caused by a race Sunday, pledging an overhaul to races next year.

"Ultimately, we were not able to prevent large-scale inconveniences," Oh wrote on Facebook. "We will revisit the route and schedule for next year's events from scratch."

Oh said the city government cut the number of marathons it sponsored to seven this year from last year's 15, but the number of races backed by the central government jumped to 23 this year from just one in 2025.

He noted running events are not subject to city approval, and pledged to work with the central government, police and event organizers to minimize inconveniences. (Yonhap)