Seoul, South Korea is the capital of the Republic of Korea and is one of the largest cities in the world. It’s also a major business and tech center. Half of South Korea’s 50 million people live in the greater Seoul area. The city is situated on the Han River, which divides Seoul into north and south sections. Seoul is surrounded by eight mountains, four of which are in central Seoul.
There’s good running in Seoul, but due to the city’s size and density, plan where you stay and use the excellent transport system to get to a ‘spot’. The highlights include the many paths and parks along the Han River, and Namasan, one of four mountains in central Seoul and the best for running. The ‘five parks’ of World Cup Park, Yongsan Family Park, trails around Olympic Park, and trails near Yonsei University, including Ansan, are also great for running. There are also excellent paths for running along Cheonggyecheon Stream and the Yangjaecheon Stream Trail.
Seoul has a great transport network, with 9 subway lines and an extensive light metro, and commuter rail, and KTX high speed train system. The subway will get you to just about all of our routes.
Winter temps can be well below freezing, with average Janaury highs of 0C, so bring layers and be prepared for some icy terrain, although the important cycling/pedestrian paths are kept clear. Winters are generally dry. In summer, it can be hot, with average highs near 30C, so run early and hydrate. There’s also a fair bit of rain in summer, brought mainly by East Asian Monsoon downpours. July and August tend to be quite cloudy. Many of our routes in the city are well lit at night.