YANGJU — The city of Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, is combining sports with tourism to boost its flagship autumn festival, holding a marathon in conjunction with the event.
Yangju said it will host the 2026 Yangju Globe Amaranth Autumn Festa Marathon on Oct. 5 around Nari Farm. The race will run alongside the Yangju Globe Amaranth Autumn Festa. Organizers designed the course so that residents and running enthusiasts from across the country can take in the city's main tourist sites and spend money at local businesses while competing.
The race starts at 8 a.m. at Nari Farm, with four events: a 3-kilometer general walk and a 3-kilometer walk with dogs, a 5-kilometer run, a 10-kilometer run and a half marathon.
The course takes in Okjeong Central Park and the Hoeamsa Temple Site. The half-marathon route starts at Nari Farm, passes the Jungchon and Samsung intersections and Okjeong Central Park, and turns around at the Hoeamsa Temple Site. The route was laid out to let runners pass through the downtown area, parks and historic and cultural sites while enjoying the city's autumn scenery.
The 3-kilometer event is split into a general walk and a walk with dogs, lowering the barrier for families to take part.
Organizers are accepting a total of 3,000 entries. Entry fees are 15,000 won for the 3-kilometer events and 50,000 won for the 5-kilometer, 10-kilometer and half-marathon events. Applications can be submitted on the official race website.
Participants receive a finisher's medal for their event, a race bib and snacks. Those entering the 5-kilometer or longer events also receive a commemorative T-shirt, a timing chip and a mobile race certificate.
The city has also built in benefits aimed at supporting the local economy. Entrants in the 5-kilometer, 10-kilometer and half-marathon events will get 10,000 won of their entry fee back in Yangju Love gift certificates, while 3-kilometer entrants will get 5,000 won back. All participants will also receive admission tickets to Nari Farm, an arrangement intended to channel race traffic into tourism and local shops.
"I hope this race lets people experience Yangju's beautiful autumn scenery along with the many attractions our city has to offer, including Nari Farm, Okjeong Central Park and the Hoeamsa Temple Site," Mayor Chung Duck-young said. "We will leave nothing to chance in our preparations so that running enthusiasts from across the country and our residents can enjoy the event safely."
