The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Monday the launch of a new waterfront night-running series, set to debut on Aug. 28 with the Yangjaecheon Moonlight Night Run. The event reimagines Korea's beloved bathhouse culture in an outdoor setting, combining the nation's enthusiasm for relaxation with its rapidly expanding urban running movement. Running has surged in popularity across South Korea in recent years, with organized running crews becoming a prominent social and fitness phenomenon, particularly among younger adults in the capital.

Organized in partnership with the city's official 7979 Seoul Running Crew, the inaugural run invites 300 participants to complete a 5.8-kilometer route along the tree-lined Yangjae and Yeoui streams in southern Seoul. Yangjae Stream, a restored urban waterway once covered by an elevated highway, has become one of Seoul's most popular recreational corridors since its ecological restoration, drawing joggers, cyclists, and families throughout the year.

A defining feature of the event is its playful immersion in Korean sauna, or jjimjilbang, culture. Jjimjilbang — large, gender-segregated bathhouses offering hot rooms, cold pools, massage services, and communal relaxation spaces — are a staple of Korean leisure life, typically operating around the clock and serving as affordable social gathering places. Runners will navigate the riverside course equipped with bathhouse-themed accessories, including mini towels folded into traditional "sheep-head" headbands — a style widely recognized among Koreans as standard jjimjilbang attire — and wristband-style locker keys. The initiative is designed to provide a lighthearted, social fitness experience while showcasing the city's scenic waterfronts after dark.

Beyond public health promotion, municipal leaders aim to use the event to stimulate local commercial districts. The initiative aligns with broader Seoul city efforts to revitalize its nighttime economy, a policy priority for municipal administrators seeking to extend commercial activity beyond daytime hours. Finishers will receive vouchers redeemable at businesses along the popular Yangjae Stream cafe street and nearby dining alleys. The city is also hosting a photo competition during the event, encouraging participants to share creative snapshots online in exchange for additional commercial coupons.

"The Yangjaecheon Moonlight Night Run is designed so citizens can experience both healthy leisure and local commercial districts while running through Seoul's beautiful nighttime waterfront spaces," said Cho Sung-ho, director general of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Tourism and Sports Bureau. "We will continue to expand a variety of programs so that many citizens can enjoy healthy recreational sports in the evening."

Safety is a key priority for the nighttime event. Organizers will stagger group departures and deploy experienced pacers and certified medical runners along the course to manage crowd density and respond to emergencies.

Pre-registration opens Tuesday afternoon on a first-come, first-served basis through the city's public service portal (yeyak.seoul.go.kr) and the Dongma Club running platform (dongma.club).

If the event proves successful, city officials plan to expand the night-run series to other riverfront parks, integrating evening athletics, urban tourism, and local commerce into a permanent fixture of Seoul's nightlife.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.