There is no doubt that running has emerged as a trend among young people these days. Their fascination with running is compounded by the freedom with which they can engage, starting anywhere and anytime without requiring any special equipment or participation costs. Confirming this trend, YTN reported six out of 10 participants in the 2024 YTN Seoul Tour Marathon held on Oct. 5 were in their 20s and 30s. One distinctive aspect of this trend is that people tend to run in groups.

“Running crews” is a term that has been coined to refer to running clubs or teams of runners. There are a number of reasons why young people prefer to run in groups. Compared with running alone, the culture of running together motivates crew members to run further, resulting in a greater sense of achievement. Cho Seung-bum (Freshman, Dept. of Software Engineering) said, “When I run with crew members, I receive a powerful boost from them.” Running in groups also provides social connections. By supporting teammates, sharing information, and sometimes coaching each other, crew members contribute to cultivating an environment where people can consistently enjoy running with friends both old and new.

In addition to the strong appeal of running crews, there are material trends driving jogging’s recent boom among young Koreans. The advent of running-oriented applications and “running-core” fashion have been major drivers of running crews' growing popularity. Popular apps offering distance-based challenges and ranking systems motivate runners to improve their own records while also fostering a sense of fierce competition, adding an entertainment aspect to running. The Running-core fashion, particularly running shoes and vests, has been growing ever more popular as athletes express their passion for running through their styles. Some people even join running crews primarily to justify trying on this gear. The use of apps and growth of runningcore interact symbiotically with young people's use of social media to post fashionable selfies and brag about their records.

of people’s reasons for joining the running crew trend, it represents a positive phenomenon in our society, as it promotes a healthy lifestyle. Recently, however, running has occasionally come under fire due to the disruptive actions of some running crews, including blocking roads and shouting loudly in populated areas. By approaching their passion with responsiblility and mature attitudes, running crews can remain a healthy and socially accepted part of Korean youth culture going forward.

By Choi Daniel, Editor