MINHO, a member of the group SHINee, has officially apologized for the "improper assistance" controversy that arose after he completed his first-ever full marathon.
MINHO participated in the full course of the "2026 JTBC Seoul Marathon" held on November 1, completing 42.195 kilometers in 3 hours, 0 minutes, and 18 seconds. He initially shared his thoughts on finishing just 18 seconds shy of a "Sub-3"—completing a full marathon in under three hours—but controversy arose after the race as videos began spreading across online communities.
The footage showed a man running alongside MINHO and appearing to push him by placing his hand on MINHO's lower back and back area. This prompted criticism questioning whether the physical assistance from a pacemaker violated marathon competition rules.
As the controversy grew, MINHO posted on his social media on November 3, bowing his head: "I am sorry for causing disappointment to many people in the marathon I participated in on November 1."
MINHO said, "Everything happened because of my own shortcomings, and as someone who cherishes and loves sports, I feel deeply ashamed. Once again, I apologize for causing concern," adding, "I will pay closer attention to ensure that the same thing does not happen again and will strive to always present my best self."
He continued, "I, too, will not accept the result of this marathon, and I will not forget the lessons learned through this process. I convey my respect to the runners who work hard while shedding countless drops of sweat," expressing his intention to voluntarily forfeit the marathon record logged that day.
[Photo=MINHO's Instagram]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)
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