‘Mourning run’ or clout chase? South Korea divided over runner’s death tributes

Yoo Ji-won, a 25-year-old graduate student at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science Technology, collapsed just 500 metres (1,600 feet) from the finish line of the 2026 Seoul Race half-marathon on October 11, local media reported. The cause of her death has not been disclosed.

Yoo was a running influencer, who often shared achievements and training snapshots under her Instagram account, mta1n_0ne. In the days following her death, some runners took to social media to post “mourning run” photos.

One user showed a certificate of a 25km run finished in two hours and 29 minutes, alongside a memorial image of Yoo. “We will run the remaining 500 metres for you. May you rest in peace,” the post read.