Seoul: A new international trail running festival, co-hosted by Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's key newswire, is slated to launch in South Korea this December, organizers revealed on Wednesday. The inaugural Yonhap Hanam International Trail Running Festival (YHITF) will unfold from December 12th to 13th in and around Hanam, located approximately 20 kilometers east of Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the event's organizing committee commenced preparations for the festival following a launch ceremony held Tuesday at Korea National Sport University in Seoul. The festival will feature trail running courses designed by South Korean Olympic marathon champion Hwang Young-jo for the 2026 edition. These courses will cover distances of 15 km and 28 km, starting from the ecological and waterfront landmark, Misa Boat Race Park, in Hanam. Participants will navigate riverside paths leading up to Mount Geomdan, a prominent peak in the city, and towards the Namhan Mountain Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrating its 400th anniversary this year.
For less experienced runners and those participating with family, the festival offers two shorter courses of 5 km and 10 km, laid out on the flat terrain around Misa Boat Race Park. The organizing committee announced plans to launch an official website soon, where interested participants can register.
The event is being co-hosted by Yonhap News Agency, Korea National Sport University, and the Hanam city government, with backing from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The launch ceremony witnessed the attendance of about 200 individuals, including Hwang Dae-il, president and CEO of Yonhap News Agency and co-chair of the organizing committee, alongside local government and sports officials.
In his congratulatory address, Hwang emphasized the collaborative efforts among the three host organizations, expressing optimism that the trail running festival would emerge as a high-caliber sporting event, appreciated by runners both in Korea and globally. He assured that Yonhap News would endeavor to offer extensive coverage, domestically and internationally, to ensure the festival becomes a lasting and memorable occasion for participants and spectators alike.