The official site of the Pyongyang Marathon

News

Pyongyang Marathon 2024 Cancelled

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JANUARY 23 2024

On January 23, 2024, Koryo Tours, the official partner overseeing the Pyongyang International Marathon, received official confirmation from the Pyongyang Marathon Committee stating that the originally planned race for April 2024 has been cancelled.

Pyongyang Marathon Reschedule

Despite being disheartening news for participants and fans, there is a ray of hope as ongoing discussions aim to potentially reschedule the event later in the year. If rescheduling takes place, the newly proposed dates are likely to be in September or October 2024.

It’s crucial to emphasize that the rescheduling has not been officially confirmed yet. Koryo Tours is actively monitoring the situation and is committed to providing timely updates on any developments, including confirmation of the rescheduled dates. These updates will be communicated through various platforms, including this channel, our social media channels, and our newsletter.

The rescheduling, if it happens, will only be for the year 2024. The Pyongyang International Marathon is expected to return to its usual April dates in 2025 and beyond, assuming the country is open to tourists at that time.

Pyongyang Marathon Tours

Caution is advised against interpreting this news as confirmation or denial of the country’s openness to tourists soon. The Pyongyang Marathon is not primarily a tourist event, having taken place for many years without tourists’ participation. The cancellation is solely due to the country’s continued closure to almost all visitors.

Even if it opens immediately, there wouldn’t be sufficient time to organize this prestigious race properly. The proposed change to a later date is merely in anticipation of the DPRK being open to visitors by that time. Those responsible for arranging the Pyongyang Marathon are distinct from those who determine the country’s openness or closure.

Regarding Pyongyang Marathon tour bookings, should the event be rescheduled, Koryo Tours will promptly offer tour packages for booking on our website. This will give participants and travellers the chance to partake in this unique event. Details will be available on the Pyongyang Marathon Tours page.

It’s crucial to note that North Korea remains closed to foreign tourism at the moment. For the latest updates on North Korea’s tourism status, please refer to the Koryo Tours website or follow our social media channels (@pyongyangmarathonofficial / @koryotours), or sign up to our newsletter.

All Pyongyang Marathon Tours will be confirmed when the borders are re-opened.

Koryo Tours
Official Pyongyang International Marathon Partners

The Pyongyang Marathon Changes its Name

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The Pyongyang Marathon, previously known as the ‘Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon’ has officially changed its name to ‘Pyongyang International Marathon’.

Pyongyang International Marathon

For many years, the Pyongyang Marathon has simply been the informal name of the event officially known as the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon – now we are pleased to announce officially that this has changed and the new, official, name of this race is the Pyongyang International Marathon.

This may seem like a small change, but it does remove some confusion for a lot of people as some folks did wonder if the marathon took place in Mangyongdae (a suburb of Pyongyang) rather than the city itself, and now the new name harmonises the official and the commonly-used names of the race.

Mangyongdae (meaning ‘place of ten thousand scenic views’) is the area of the city where DPRK founder Kim Il Sung was born. His native home is a significant tourist attraction and a site of local pilgrimage. The race was named for this area as it takes place around the anniversary of this birth (April 15th) every year. Learn more about this site with our Koryo Tours Travel Guide to the Mangyongdae Native House.

We expect a new logo to be issued and will announce when that happens.

For those who are immediately nostalgic about the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon logo then here is it below on one of the 2019 finishers’ medals.

Koryo Tours
Pyongyang International Marathon Official Partners

2024 Pyongyang Marathon – Tours Now Available

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PYONGYANG INTERNATIONAL MARATHON

(Formerly Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon)

The Pyongyang Marathon has been cancelled since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Pyongyang Marathon 2021, 2022, and 2023 have since been cancelled. With the world opening up, we hope to be able to return to Pyongyang in 2024 for the Pyongyang Marathon. Stay tuned for updates on border openings.

We are pleased to announce the opening of the Pyongyang International Marathon; formerly known as the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, or more commonly as the ‘Pyongyang Marathon’.

https://pyongyangmarathon.com/pyongyang-marathon-changes-its-name/

NOTE: Pyongyang International Marathon 2024 is set for 14th April – this date is subject to change. We will inform you of any changes if there are any.

Pyongyang International Marathon Booking

2024 Pyongyang Marathon tours are now available. It is expected to be on Sunday 14th April and tours are now available to book.

You can view them all in detail here.

Koryo Tours is the official event partner of the Pyongyang Marathon, and they are excited to bring you tours for the 2024 Pyongyang Marathon which feature new tour options and some exciting new tour itineraries.

The marathon will again follow the same route through Pyongyang as before which take in many of the key sites of Pyongyang. It will start and finish inside Kim Il Sung Stadium which will be full of 50,000 Koreans cheering you on.

Bookings can be made in the interim through Koryo Tours without a deposit so you can secure your place in one of the biggest events of the year in the DPRK.

What are you waiting for? Lace-up your shoes and get some good tunes lined up for your training sessions. We look forward to seeing you all in Pyongyang in the new year!

Pyongyang Marathon Guide

Shanghai – Pyongyang

Shenyang – Pyongyang

Beijing – Pyongyang

Budget Tours

Koryo Tours
Official Partners of the Pyongyang International Marathon

Pyongyang Marathon 2023 Cancelled

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The National Olympic Committee of DPR Korea, in association with the DPRK Amateur Athletics Association and Koryo Tours, has confirmed today that the 2023 Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon – also known as the Pyongyang Marathon 2023 –  is cancelled due to the ongoing closure of the DPRK border, and COVID-19 pandemic.

It has also been confirmed that the Pyongyang Marathon is now officially changing its name. Previously officially the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, and more commonly known as the Pyongyang Marathon, it will now be known as “Pyongyang International Marathon”.

Pyongyang International Marathon

Read more on this name change

All tours to North Korea (DPRK) are suspended as the borders to the country are all closed. 2023’s Pyongyang Marathon has officially been cancelled, but we are now offering the full range of 2024 Marathon Tours.

All Pyongyang Marathon Tours will be confirmed when the borders are re-opened.

https://pyongyangmarathon.com/2024-pyongyang-marathon-tours-now-available/

We stay positive and look forward to being back in Pyongyang again for the fantastic event that is the Pyongyang Marathon, and hope you’ll be there to join us to!

Keep up to date on any travel updates from North Korea by following our social media channels (@pyongyangmarathonofficial / @koryotours), or signing up to our newsletter.

Koryo Tours
Official Pyongyang International Marathon Partners

2022 Pyongyang Marathon – Tours Now Available

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Start training and lace up those shoes. 2022 Pyongyang Marathon tours are now available. It is expected to be on Sunday 10th April and tours are now available to book.

You can view them all in detail here.

Koryo Tours is the official event partner of the Pyongyang Marathon, and they are excited to bring you tours for the 2022 Pyongyang Marathon which feature new tour options and some exciting new tour itineraries.

The marathon will again follow the same route through Pyongyang as before which take in many of the key sites of Pyongyang. It will start and finish inside Kim Il Sung Stadium which will be full of 50,000 Koreans cheering you on.

Bookings can be made in the interim through Koryo Tours without a deposit so you can secure your place in one of the biggest events of the year in the DPRK.

We look forward to seeing you all in Pyongyang in the new year.

Pyongyang Marathon 2021 Cancelled

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The National Olympic Committee of DPR Korea, in association with the DPRK Amateur Athletics Association and Koryo Tours, has confirmed today that the 2021 Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon – also known as the Pyongyang Marathon 2021 –  is cancelled due to the ongoing closure of the DPRK border, and COVID-19 pandemic.

All tours to North Korea (DPRK) are suspended as the borders to the country are all closed. 2021’s Pyongyang Marathon has officially been cancelled, but we are now offering the full range of 2022 Marathon Tours.

All Pyongyang Marathon Tours will be confirmed when the borders are re-opened.

We stay positive and look forward to being back in Pyongyang again for the fantastic event that is the Pyongyang Marathon, and hope you’ll be there to join us to!

Keep up to date on any travel updates from North Korea by following our social media channels (@pyongyangmarathonofficial / @koryotours), or signing up to our newsletter.

2020 Pyongyang Marathon Cancelled

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The National Olympic Committee of DPR Korea, in association with the DPRK Amateur Athletics Association and Koryo Tours, have confirmed today that the 2020 Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon – also known as the Pyongyang Marathon –  is cancelled due to the ongoing closure of the DPRK border, and COVID-19 virus situation in China and the greater region.

The marathon organisers wish to convey their gratitude to all the participants who had signed up for the 2020 Pyongyang Marathon, for their patience and understanding during this difficult time.

The next edition of the Pyongyang Marathon will be in April 2021 with the date to be confirmed shortly. The organisers hope to, and look forward to seeing everyone at the 2021 event in Pyongyang.

Please contact your travel company for further information if you are affected by this cancellation.

2019 Pyongyang Marathon Race Results

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The 2019 Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon – the Pyongyang Marathon – was run on Sunday 7 April, 2019.

Over 1,600 participants hit the streets of Pyongyang including around 1,000 amateur runners to participate in what is the main event of the Mangyongdae Prize Sports Competition. A total of 59 countries were represented in the event.

Conditions were perfect for the event with blue skies, cool temperatures and an eager crowd of 50,000 people ready to cheer on runners inside Kim Il Sung Stadium.

The men’s race was won by Ri Kang Bom (DPR Korea) for the second year in a row with a 2:11:18, and the women’s race was won by Ri Kwang Ok (DPR Korea) with a 2:26:57.

You can view the race results in full here.

2018 Pyongyang Marathon Results

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The 29th Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon – also known as the Pyongyang Marathon – was run on Sunday April 8th, 2018.

In chilly conditions that saw snow falling at one point, 1,170 participants from all over the world including 429 amateurs headed to Pyongyang to hit the streets for one the most unique marathons in the world.

With a time of 2:12:53, the DPRK’s very own Ri Kang Bom came in first place for the men, and current Asian Marathon Champion Kim Hye Gyong came in first for women with a 2:27:30 just edging out her twin sister Kim Hye Song who finished second with a 2:27:31.

This year’s event also saw disabled athletes participate for the first time ever with William Tan from Singapore becoming the first person to complete the race in a wheelchair with a time of 2:49:59, and Kim Chol Ung from the DPRK becoming the first visually impaired runner to complete the event with a time of 3:28:20.

You can view the full results in full here

The Pyongyang Marathon is AIMS Certified!

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AIMS – the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races – is the international body behind the development and progress of many of the best distance running races in the world. Founded in 1982, the organisation now has more than 400 member races in over 90 countries. AIMS is also an official partner of the IAAF whom adopted the international standard of course measurement first established by AIMS.

And we are very excited to announce that the Pyongyang Marathon has now been certified by AIMS!

This new certification is further recognition that the Pyongyang Marathon meets international marathon standards and provides the organisers with an even bigger source of knowledge to develop & evolve the event. For you as a runner it also means that your race times achieved in Pyongyang can now be used to enter events where a minimum qualification time is required such as the Boston Marathon and New York City Marathon!

You can view the official AIMS listing here on their website.

There is still time to secure your spot on the start line for this year’s event – you could be the first person to qualify for the Boston Marathon on the streets of Pyongyang!