On October 11th, 25-year-old running influencer Yoo Ji-won tragically passed away after collapsing near the finish line during a half-marathon race, leaving her fans in shock.
The Seoul Marathon organizing committee announced the news of the participant’s death on Monday via Instagram. The statement mentioned that the participant collapsed less than 0.8 kilometers from the finish line and was subsequently taken to a medical facility but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries.
Her friend Bummy, also a running content creator, took to Instagram to mourn and confirmed the deceased as Yoo Ji-won, reminiscing about her final moments.
Yoo Ji-won, who had over 8,000 followers on Instagram, was known for sharing her running experiences and athletic achievements.
“At the finish line of the Seoul Marathon, I saw a crowd gathering, thinking someone was injured,” Bummy wrote in Korean. “I rushed past the finish line, searching for you at the awards podium. However, unsettling news followed, and I began to realize a reality I didn’t want to believe. I dropped everything and rushed to the hospital, hoping to see you one last time, but unfortunately, I couldn’t be with you until the end.”
The entire race route was approximately 21.1 kilometers, and she collapsed just around 500 meters away from the finish line.
According to the European media outlet Resonate Voices, which specializes in reporting news from East Asia and Southeast Asia, Yoo Ji-won was born in 2001 and started engaging in long-distance running in 2022. Through sharing her training routines and her work in a laboratory focusing on next-generation computing hardware, she built a loyal online following.
Combining top-notch physical fitness with rigorous scientific research at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), she gained widespread recognition in the South Korean running community.
Her athletic achievements placed her among the top amateur long-distance runners in South Korea. On March 15, 2026, she participated in the full marathon event of the Seoul Marathon, completing the race in 2 hours, 56 minutes, and 32 seconds. This achievement realized her coveted “Sub-3” (finishing a marathon in under 3 hours) goal, a rare milestone for non-professional runners.
The cause of her death has yet to be determined.
“We also extend our condolences to the other participants. Upon hearing this tragic news, everyone must be feeling heavy-hearted,” the race committee added. “The committee will thoroughly investigate the circumstances and take necessary follow-up actions.”
Her last activity update was on October 4th when she shared the results of a recent 10-kilometer run. Friends and fans flooded the comment section with messages of mourning for the late influencer.
“Every time I watched her running videos, I felt she was an incredible runner,” one commenter wrote. “I will always remember her.”
“I have always been cheering for you, but today I have to wish you rest in peace,” another commenter expressed.