Heartbreaking news has emerged from South Korea: Ryu Ji-won (유지원), a running influencer born in 2001, tragically died after collapsing during the half-marathon segment of the "2026 Seoul Race." She lost consciousness and fell to the ground approximately 500 meters from the finish line. Despite immediate CPR and emergency first aid by on-site medical staff, and an urgent transfer to the hospital by ambulance, she unfortunately passed away the same day. The news has left her fans in deep sorrow.
The organizers of the Seoul Race issued an announcement on October 12, stating that at approximately 8:49 AM on October 11, a half-marathon participant experienced an emergency and collapsed at the 20.6-kilometer mark of the course. On-site personnel immediately provided initial first aid, and the participant was transported to a medical facility by a 119 ambulance for treatment, but ultimately could not be saved.
The organizers extended their condolences to the deceased and their family, stating, "We pray for the repose of the deceased and offer our deepest sympathies to the family who are enduring this sudden sorrow." The unexpected incident has shocked both participants and the public following the event.
It was later confirmed that Ryu Ji-won collapsed and lost consciousness approximately 500 meters from the finish line. On-site medical personnel immediately performed CPR and other emergency procedures, but she never regained consciousness. She was then transported to the hospital, where she tragically passed away the same day.
The unfortunate runner was identified as Ryu Ji-won. Born in 2001, she was a running influencer and a graduate student at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), specializing in AI semiconductors. An avid amateur runner, she had garnered significant attention in the running community by balancing her academic pursuits with her passion for running. The news of her passing has been difficult for many fans to accept.
Even more regrettable is that Ryu Ji-won had participated in the full 2026 Seoul Marathon on March 15 this year, completing it in 2 hours, 56 minutes, and 32 seconds. She successfully achieved the coveted "sub-3" time, finishing a full marathon in under three hours, demonstrating her exceptional ability.
Following the news, many fans flocked to her social media platforms to leave messages of remembrance, expressing their sorrow and grief. From her love of running and challenging herself to this tragic incident on the racecourse, Ryu Ji-won's death is deeply regrettable and has once again brought attention to athlete safety and emergency medical response in long-distance races.
