Popular South Korean social media personality and dedicated runner, Yu Ji-won, tragically passed away during the Seoul Half Marathon on October 11. The 25-year-old student collapsed suddenly in the final stretch of the race, just approximately 500 meters shy of the finish line, having already completed over 20.6 kilometers of the challenging course.
The Seoul International Half Marathon, a significant event in the city’s sporting calendar, drew more than 12,000 participants. Yu Ji-won was among the enthusiastic runners, widely recognized for her active promotion of running sports across South Korea as a content producer. Her efforts had garnered her a substantial following and considerable popularity within the running community.
The devastating incident occurred at approximately 8:49 a.m. when Yu Ji-won, engaged in the 21.095-kilometer half-marathon, unexpectedly collapsed. Emergency medical personnel at the event swiftly provided immediate care. Despite their prompt response and the subsequent decision to transport her to a hospital, Ji-won regrettably succumbed to her condition en route, her life ending at the age of 25.
Following the tragic news, the organizers of the Seoul Half Marathon issued a statement expressing their deepest condolences to Yu Ji-won’s family. They also pledged to conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the unfortunate incident.
Born in 2001, Yu Ji-won was not only a gifted athlete but also a bright technology student and an aspiring scientist. Her social media presence also highlighted her expertise as a research specialist in artificial intelligence technology, showcasing her diverse talents and intellectual curiosity. Her passion for running ignited in 2022, leading her to create engaging short videos documenting her training regimens and various running techniques. These posts, shared across her social media platforms, received widespread support and admiration. Demonstrating her athletic prowess, she had previously completed the full Seoul Marathon in March 2025, achieving an impressive finish time of 2 hours, 56 minutes, and 32 seconds (a ‘Sub-3’ marathon), a remarkable feat for any runner.
