Refugee participants in the International Peace Marathon pose with supporters in southern Seoul, Oct. 3. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
The 21st International Peace Marathon took place on a beautiful morning on National Foundation Day, Oct. 3. The event attracted 6,000 participants, including 15 refugees from Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Co-sponsored by Gangnam District and the Eighth U.S. Army, the marathon aimed to promote world peace and unity while sharing compassion for children in need around the world. Attendees included U.S. Forces Korea personnel, diplomats stationed in Korea, foreign residents and marathon enthusiasts. Participants competed in four courses: Full and Half Marathon, 10km and 5km, each with a time limit.
A local organization known as The Refuge pNan took the initiative to invite refugees and coordinate the event along with other supporting organizations, Hanokers and Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL) . Established in 1999 by Abraham Ho-taeg Lee, executive director, pNan is a Christian NGO that protects and assists North Korean and international refugees seeking asylum in Korea and abroad.
Abraham Ho-taeg Lee, executive director of pNan, smiles before starting to run in the International Peace Marathon in southern Seoul, Oct. 3. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
Kim Jin-soo, case manager at The Refuge pNan, told The Korea Times that it was nice running alongside the refugees. “First and foremost, I started this to help improve the health of refugees, both physically and mentally," he said.
He described the uncertainty and stress that refugees live with in Korea, where the refugee recognition rate is very low. They also face various other barriers once arriving here, including difficulty finding work.
"Because of that, I've seen many refugees struggle with depression or a sense of hopelessness," Kim said. "But running is different. You don't need much to get started, and anyone can do it. The more you run, the further you can go and the faster you get. My hope is that, through running, refugees — who often don't have a lot of chances to feel a sense of accomplishment — can start experiencing those small victories. Setting a goal like finishing a marathon, practicing for it and then achieving that goal can be really meaningful for them. And on top of that, there's a lot of research showing that running can help with depression, too."
Kim Jin-soo, case manager at The Refuge pNan, participates in the International Peace Marathon in southern Seoul, Oct. 3. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
Kim made a point of running the 10km course alongside the refugee participants.
"It's not just about supporting them from afar — it's about being right there with them, sharing in their journey," he said. "By running side by side, we're hoping to show that they're not alone."
Ngwa Sylvester Suh, a Cameroonian refugee who came to Korea about six months ago, took part in the 10km race and completed it in 00:52:37 according to the digital mobile record certificate provided by the organizers.
3 Attorney Il Lee, chair of the Korea Refugee Rights Network, holds up a “Refugees Welcome” sign at the International Peace Marathon in southern Seoul, Oct. 3. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
“It was a great event," he said. "Being part of the International Peace Marathon meant a lot for many refugees like me. It was a bit challenging because I didn't prepare much for the running part. Participating in such events gives me hope that would help me assimilate into Korean society. In addition, running in good weather along the Han River enabled me to relieve my daily stress and worries which was loaded in my home country.”
Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He's also the co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative and freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.