Pyongyang Marathon Name Change
Pyongyang Marathon 2023 Cancellation
Pyongyang Marathon Tours 2024
Pyongyang Marathon Resources

The Pyongyang International Marathon, previously known as the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, has been open to amateur runners since 2014. You can run the 5k, 10k, Half Marathon or Full Marathon. The race is a World Athletics (formerly the IAAF) Bronze Label road race with the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) certification. Koryo Tours is the exclusive travel partner of the Pyongyang Marathon.

Every runner of every distance is invited to participate in the race’s opening ceremony, which involves a lap of Kim Il Sung Stadium before heading out onto the streets of Pyongyang. All runners then have the chance to finish their race inside Kim Il Sung stadium in front of a capacity crowd of 50,000 people. It’s the closest experience to being in the Olympics!

The Pyongyang Marathon has been cancelled for three consecutive years (2020-2023) due to border closures due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. 

As the official partners, we aim to keep you updated on things going on with the Pyongyang Marathon as much as possible. This is why we keep our tours listed and ready for any news on border opening. 

Feel free to browse our Pyongyang Marathon 2024 tours below and send us an email with any enquiries! 

Below you'll find a few updates for 2023-2024.

Pyongyang Marathon Name Change

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.

Read more on the Pyongyang Marathon Name Change

Pyongyang Marathon 2023 Cancellation

Our partners in Pyongyang, the Marathon Committee, confirmed the cancellation of the Pyongyang Marathon 2023 by phone.

They expressed their gratitude to anyone who has expressed an ongoing interest in running in Pyongyang and their sincere hope that next year the event will be possible and that foreign runners will participate.

The reason for the cancellation? It is the ongoing closure of the DPRK borders, meaning that nobody can enter the country.

This is a barrier to hosting an event that requires runners to come from abroad, so once again this race has to be cancelled.

Read more on the Pyongyang Marathon 2023 Cancellation

Pyongyang Marathon Tours 2024

Despite the repeated cancellation of the Pyongyang Marathon due to border closures, we remain hopeful that 2024 will be the year we can get back! 

The date of the 2024 Pyongyang Marathon is expected to be Sunday, April 14th Koryo Tours are offering a wide range of tours from short weekend breaks over the marathon period to longer trips taking in various other parts of North Korea as well - something for everyone!

Important Note - 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 will be confirmed when the borders are re-opened).

Full List of Pyongyang Marathon Tours

Pyongyang Marathon Resources

Below is a list of resources useful for those looking to find out more on the Pyongyang Marathon. 

Pyongyang Marathon: The Closest Experience to Being in the Olympics
The Pyongyang Marathon in Review
Shanghai to Pyongyang - Run the Adventure of a Lifetime
Pyongyang Marathon FAQs
Pyongyang Marathon Packing List | North Korea Travel Guide
Pyongyang Marathon Information Portal

Koryo Tours
Official Pyongyang Marathon Partners