(C) Travel and Tour World
JEJU ISLAND – The "2026 Jeju Oreum Trail Run," a signature sports tourism event organized by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Jeju Tourism Organization (JTO), has achieved a record-breaking sell-out. All 2,000 registration slots were filled within just 24 hours after opening on February 11, highlighting the explosive demand for nature-based athletic experiences.
A Fusion of Primitive Nature and Global Branding
Scheduled for June 13, the race will commence at the Canola Flower Plaza within the Gasiri Village Ranch in Seogwipo. Participants will navigate through the "Oreums" (volcanic cones) and ranch paths that preserve Jeju's raw, volcanic beauty, as well as scenic hydrangea-lined trails synonymous with the island’s early summer.
The event is divided into 10km and 30km courses, attracting a diverse demographic. Beyond domestic enthusiasts, a significant number of runners from Singapore, Vietnam, and Japan have signed up. The partnership with Salomon, a premier global mountain sports lifestyle brand, has further bolstered the event's prestige and marketability.
From Simple Race to Economic Powerhouse
The fervor surrounding this year’s race follows a highly successful 2025 season. According to JTO data, the previous event—which featured 1,400 participants—saw nearly 80% of its runners traveling from outside Jeju. These visitors stayed for an average of three days, generating an estimated 2.6 billion KRW ($1.9 million USD) in economic ripple effects through spending on accommodation, dining, and local services.
The surge in popularity is also attributed to media exposure; the challenges faced by the cast of the popular variety show Iron Girls (Musoe Sonyeodan) on these trails significantly boosted public interest in trail running as a trendy "MZ generation" hobby.
Sustainable and Localized Festival
The 2026 edition aims to be more than just a competition. It is designed as a cultural festival that integrates:
Environmental Values: Collaborative waste-collection activities (plogging) with local running crews.
Local Gastronomy: Serving traditional Jeju "Gogi-guksu" (pork noodles) provided by village residents.
Cultural Arts: Live performances by local musicians at the venue.
The "Jeju Running Week" Strategy
The race serves as the flagship program for "Jeju Running Week," part of the broader "The-Jeju Four Seasons" tourism campaign. By concentrating wellness, culinary, and sports content into a specific period, the JTO aims to encourage longer stays and higher spending during the summer season.
"The rapid sell-out of the Jeju Oreum Trail Run is a clear signal that there is a robust market for specialized content that combines nature, sports, and tourism," said a representative from the Jeju Tourism Organization. "Moving forward, we will continue to develop seasonal signature programs to drive the qualitative transformation of Jeju tourism and revitalize the local economy."
Detailed schedules for additional fringe events and regional programs will be released sequentially via the Visit Jeju website and official social media channels.
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