Minho completed the 42.195km distance at the event on Sunday in 3 hours and 18 seconds. In his first-ever marathon, he aimed for a sub-3 finish but narrowly missed the mark.
After the race, the singer posted his finisher’s certificate on social media. According to Herald Businessthe certificate said he placed 1,137th overall and 1,112th among male runners. Minho also thanked his pacer for helping him achieve a good result.
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Minho’s performance at the 2026 Seoul Marathon. Photo by JTBC Seoul Marathon |
However, controversy erupted after a video circulated online showing a man running behind Minho repeatedly placing his hands on the singer’s lower back, appearing to push him forward.
Some observers argued that this action went far beyond the traditional role of a pacer and called on race organizers to void the singer’s result. Rather than simply helping Minho to maintain a steady pace, this individual is said to have provided physical assistance.
World Athletics regulations strictly prohibit runners from receiving physical assistance from other participants to aid their forward movement, excluding helping a fallen runner get back up. The final ruling depends on whether race officials determine the physical contact actually provided assistance to Minho.
The online debate continued over whether athletic rules should be strictly enforced for recreational runners. Supporters argued the backlash against the K-pop star was excessive, while others countered that participating in an official, ranked race requires all runners to uphold fair play principles.
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A screenshot from a video shows a pacer appearing to have given Minho physical assistance during the Seoul Marathon on Nov. 1, 2026. |
On Tuesday, Minho posted a formal apology on social media. According to Sports Kyunghyanghe accepted full responsibility, expressed shame as a sports lover and apologized for disappointing many people. He also requested that his race result not be officially recognized.
Minho affirmed he would use the incident as a learning experience and expressed respect for runners who train diligently. His statement did not clarify whether he had asked the pacer for the physical assistance.
According to The Korea Heraldrace organizers have yet to issue an official ruling on the matter. Therefore, Minho’s personal request to have his result canceled does not guarantee his record will be voided.
Minho, born Choi Min-ho, debuted in 2008 with SM Entertainment’s highly successful boy group SHINee. Beyond his music and acting career, he is widely known in South Korea for his passion for sports and his competitive spirit on physical entertainment shows.