Just 500 Meters From the Finish Line, Woman in Her 20s Collapses and Dies After Marathon

A woman in her 20s who participated in a marathon held in downtown Seoul 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 in 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 to the finish line.

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

After receiving treatment at the hospital, A 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 heartbreaking news to our participants," adding, "At 8:49 a.m. on October 11, an emergency situation occurred where a participant collapsed at the 20.6-kilometer mark of the half course."

They stated that after emergency measures were taken at the scene and the participant was transported to the hospital by a 119 ambulance, she 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 yet been confirmed.

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

It was reported that A was a prestigious graduate school student who had a deep 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.