On the run: Marathon Running in Korea

Investigations and activities (SOSE Focus)

1. Find out more about marathons. Write your own investigation questions including: What are they? Why do people participate? Who participates? How long have marathons been around? Where do they run in Korea and Australia?
2. Read the article, Running Craze in Korea, in the Autumn 2003 edition of Koreana. The article reports that marathon running in Korea also boosted offshoot industries such as sportswear and running equipment. Write a business report for a journal explaining the economic benefits of marathons.
3. In the same article, some Seoul residents talk about ‘marathon pollution’. What do you think this means? Think about the impact of having thousands of runners in the streets. Can you suggest any negative aspects of marathon running?
4. Investigate why marathons have played an exciting part in Korea’s history by exploring other parts of the Autumn 2003 edition of Koreana.
5. Look at the image of the Namdaemun Gate in the centre of the image On the run: Marathon running in Korea, and read the nine pieces of rollover text. Search for close views of the Gate and the nearby Namdaemun market using Google Images, Tag Galaxy or Flickr. What do the images that you discover tell you about life in Seoul? Discuss your findings in small groups.
6. You can read about regional marathons in the article ‘Marathons in Korea’, also available in the Autumn 2003 edition of Koreana. These include the Daegwallyeong International Topless Marathon and the Bukhansan International Mountain Marathon where people carry dirt up the mountain to cover exposed tree roots! Write a news report on these events.