The tragic death of running influencer Yujin Yoo has sparked intense debate over the concept of 'memorial runs.'
Yujin Yoo, a graduate student at KAIST, collapsed about 500 meters from the finish line during the '2026 Seoul Race' half marathon on October 11 and later died in the hospital.
Following the news of her sudden passing, many runners shared their own 'memorial runs' or 'mourning runs' on social media. This method of remembrance has led to a heated discussion online, with some arguing it may come off as performative, while others defend it as a legitimate way to honor the deceased.
Internationally, there have been instances where runners completed the distance that the deceased could not finish. On September 8, 2024, Sam Williams, then 29, collapsed and died about 3.4 kilometers from the finish line during the Great North Run half marathon in the UK. He was reportedly participating to honor his late sister and a family friend while supporting a mental health charity.
In response, fellow runners organized a memorial event to complete the distance he could not finish, gathering hundreds in South Shields a week later on September 15. They ran or walked along a designated route to pay tribute, initially planning to run the final stretch of the actual race course but changing the location for safety reasons.
In the United States, the phenomenon of running in memory of a deceased runner has gained global traction. A notable example is Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was shot while jogging in Georgia on February 23, 2020. On May 8 of the same year, in honor of his birthday, runners worldwide completed a distance of 2.23 miles (approximately 3.6 kilometers), corresponding to the date of his death. Participants shared photos and times on social media using the hashtag '#IRUNWITHMAUD.'
In Manchester, UK, a memorial run continues to honor fellow runner Mike Dunn, who passed away in 2023. Local running groups have organized a 10-kilometer race in his name to raise funds for charity.
These examples illustrate how running has been used as a means of honoring and sharing grief for the deceased. Instances of sharing running records on social media as a form of tribute have also been observed.
However, these cases do not resolve the ongoing debate about the appropriateness of such memorial practices. Issues surrounding the use of the deceased's name and image, the wishes of the family, and the purpose of sharing records remain separate matters for consideration.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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