Trash-strewn roads near Jamsil Station spark backlash after major marathon

Public criticism has mounted after photos showed paper cups and plastic bags scattered near Jamsil Station following a large-scale marathon. The incident follows a surge in approved races in Seoul, which rose from 53 cases in 2024 to 117 cases this year.

Public criticism is mounting following the release of photos showing roads near Jamsil Station covered in trash after a large-scale marathon held in downtown Seoul. The sight of paper cups and plastic bags abandoned across the streets has brought both the civic consciousness of participants and the traffic inconveniences caused by frequent urban marathons under scrutiny.

On the 2nd, a post titled "The state near Jamsil Station after yesterday's marathon" was uploaded to the online community Bobaedream along with photographs. The images show paper cups, plastic bags, and snack wrappers scattered haphazardly across the roads near Jamsil Station, where uncollected waste remained in the heart of the city after the event concluded.

The author of the post, identified as A, expressed displeasure, stating, "Marathon events should be held in moderation." Beyond the simple issue of dirty roads, questions have been raised regarding whether organizers sufficiently considered the surrounding environment and the inconvenience to citizens when hosting such large-scale events.

Responses from netizens who saw the photos were sharp. Complaints followed, with comments such as, "Please go run in a secluded place," "It took an hour to travel a distance that should take 10 minutes due to traffic control," and "Marathon races that cause harm to citizens should stop now." Critics pointed out that sporting events intended for health and leisure are instead shifting the environmental burden and inconvenience onto the public.

This fatigue surrounding marathon competitions is not the first instance. On the 19th of last month, entertainer Kian84 mentioned the increase in running races in Seoul on his YouTube channel, saying, "Because there are too many running races in Seoul, the roads are extremely congested every weekend." He added, "I am worried that people might start to view running itself in a negative light." While the trend of running culture itself is expanding, there are concerns that if the management of these races fails to gain public sympathy, the positive perception of the sport itself could decline.

Kian84, a popular entertainer and former webtoon artist, is highly regarded, though he also faces criticism from certain quarters. However, his opinions regarding urban marathons are resonating with many, adding weight to the calls for improvement.

The number of marathon races that have received approval from the Seoul Metropolitan Government to use start and finish locations has increased from 53 cases in 2024 to 94 cases last year, reaching 117 cases this year. As the hosting of these races increases rapidly, secondary issues such as traffic control, noise, and waste disposal are also growing. It was reported that complaints related to marathons received by the Seoul Metropolitan Government exceeded 1,000 cases last year.

Marathons are a form of community sports and a healthy leisure activity that any citizen can participate in. However, as events that involve long-term control of major urban roads and the simultaneous movement of large crowds, organizers bear responsibility not only for safety management but also for waste collection, traffic measures, and citizen guidance. Participants must also maintain basic order by not carelessly discarding items they used after the race ends.

While the number of races may increase as the running population grows, the burden should not be unilaterally shifted to citizens who are unrelated to the events. The photos of trash covering the roads at Jamsil Station pose a clear question: as the scale and frequency of marathons increase, is there a corresponding increase in consideration and responsibility for the citizens who share these urban spaces?

Read the original (Korean)