Who is responsible for marathon road closures?

City marathons are controlled by regional police authorities, while city governments have the power to select specific public venues for the start and finish lines. The Seoul Metropolitan Government acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the rising number of running events and is attempting to reduce complaints by sending text message alerts to residents about upcoming marathons and road closures.

However, the government emphasized that it lacks the authority to approve or reject these events, leaving some control to the hosts themselves. The city government expressed regret over the marathons being hosted in the city center, opting for less congested locations such as the riverside along the Han River. Cha Jin-ju, head of the sports policy division under the city government's Tourism & Sports Bureau, noted that hosts prefer inner-city locations due to the increased revenue generated.

In response, the government refrained from sponsoring marathons held in the city center and instead advised event organizers to choose alternative locations outside the city center.