"Just 500 Meters From the Finish Line": 20-Something Woman Dies After Collapsing in Marathon

A woman in her 20s participating in a downtown Seoul marathon has died after collapsing just about 500 meters before the finish line.

At around 8:49 a.m. on October 11, a woman in her 20s identified as A, who was participating in the "2026 Seoul Marathon," suddenly collapsed near Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The event A participated in was a half marathon covering a total distance of 21.0975 kilometers.

According to the organizing committee, the spot where A collapsed was at the 20.6-kilometer mark, leaving only about 500 meters remaining until the finish line.

Race officials who discovered A collapsed immediately called 119 and performed CPR, but A did not regain consciousness and was transported to a hospital.

A, who had been receiving treatment at the hospital, ultimately passed away yesterday, the day after the accident.

Following the news of the accident, the Seoul Race Organizing Committee released an official statement.

The organizing committee explained, "We deliver this sudden and tragic news to all participants," adding, "At 8:49 a.m. on the 11th, an emergency situation occurred where a participant collapsed at the 20.6-kilometer mark of the half course."

They stated that after administering emergency measures at the scene, the participant was transported to the hospital by a 119 ambulance, but tragically passed away while receiving treatment.

The organizing committee said, "We pray for the deceased and express our deepest condolences to the bereaved family facing this sudden sorrow."

The exact cause of A's death has not been confirmed as of yet.

The organizers are looking into the specific details surrounding the accident.

A was reportedly a prestigious university graduate student who had a great passion for running, actively working as a "running influencer."

(Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Kim Kihyun | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.