Running is exploding in Korea — and so are sneaker sales Published: 09 Oct. 2024, 06:00 Participants start the race in the 21st International Peace Marathon in Seoul on Oct. 3.

[YONHAP] As more people in their 20s and 30s pick up track and field, whether as a hobby or competitive sport, demand for running shoes is booming. From 300,000 won ($223) running shoes to an a influencer-made shoe hierarchy and the new fashion buzzword “running-core,” a cultural landscape is forming around the footwear. Related Article On the run with Seoul’s fittest tour group Korean American adoptee and artist runs to raise awareness Adidas’s pop-up event “Adidas Ground Seongsu” on Oct.

3 in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, invited visitors to don the brand’s shoes and run on a treadmill. The store, themed around training for track and field, displayed a variety of running shoes, targeting demographics from beginners to professional marathoners. Adidas Korea runs pop-up event "Adidas Ground Seongsu" on Oct.

3 in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul. [YOO JI-YOEN] Kim Yi-young, 34, said she'd visited the pop-up store after recently gaining interest in running. “I’m planning to test out running shoes that are for beginners or are for daily use,” said Kim, who described herself as someone who regularly liked to work out.

The running fervor was also evident in the nearby Seoul Forest Park. Three teams of runners — often referred to as “running crews” in Korea — met up in the span of 10 .