SM Holds a 10km Running Event Where Artists and Fans Run Together—First Held on Oct. 3

A first-of-its-kind experiment in the entertainment industry: a 10km running track shared by artists and fans

South Korea’s leading K-pop agency ‘SM Entertainment’ is launching an unusual offline project that lets its affiliated artists and fan fandom breathe together beyond physical limits. On Oct. 3, the large-scale running festival ‘SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26’ (SMTOWN RUN CLUB 26), where participants run side by side on a ‘10km’ track, will unveil itself.

The stage for this event is Incheon’s ‘Wangs‌an Marina Port’. The course is designed to start at the starting line, use Wangs‌an Bridge as the turnaround point, and then return to the original departure location. By going beyond the scope of a simple fan meeting or concert, the event is expected to become a milestone in a new fan culture that blends sports and entertainment.

The idea for the project traces back to last July, when ‘Minho’, a member of the group ‘SHINee’, crossed through central London together with senior and junior artists in what was dubbed ‘SM London Run’. At the time, the event drew explosive reactions from global fans. Unlike existing events, which were carried out under the agency’s strict control, it was evaluated as a bold approach because it allows people to witness artists’ sweat up close.

The energy of the race doesn’t fade even after the finish line. Immediately after sharing the sense of accomplishment of completing the 10km, an exclusive stage unfolds—planned and decorated directly by singers affiliated with ‘SM Entertainment’ who joined the event. A landmark fusion festival is taking shape, where the dynamism of sports intersects with the flash of K-pop.