A fellow runner and content creator has broken his silence on the death of South Korean fitness influencer Yoo Ji-won, who collapsed and died during a half marathon in Seoul.
The Seoul Race Organizing Committee confirmed that a participant died during the October 11 event. The deceased was later identified as Yoo, 25, by her friend and fellow running influencer who posts under the handle @bummy_5.
The friend shared a lengthy tribute on Instagram recalling how he first met Yoo. “I met Dazza Gozza in the first place and walked Chuncheon half together,” he wrote. “I wanted to be an unusual person ever since, but, at that time, I thought it was just a passing relationship.”
Their paths crossed again at what he referred to as GMW, and their bond deepened through regular runs. “And time passes we meet again at GMW. I never thought we’d be this close until then,” he continued. “The routine running together has become so natural.”
He described their shared dedication to the sport in rain or shine. “Even if it’s drizzling, even if it’s raining heavily, I’m always happy as the moment we run together,” he wrote. “It’s all thanks to the support that I’m able to love and enjoy running this much. There were so many moments together that it took me a while to choose a photo.”
The friend had been waiting at the finish line expecting to celebrate Yoo’s completion of the race. “Near the finish line of the Seoul Race, I saw a crowd gathering and thought someone must have been hurt,” he wrote in Korean. “As soon as I crossed the finish line, I looked for you on the awards podium, but then came the unsettling news, and I began to sense a reality I didn’t want to believe.”
He rushed to try to see her once more. “I dropped everything and rushed to the hospital, hoping to see you one last time, but I am so sorry I couldn’t stay by your side until the very end,” he shared.
“After first aid on the scene, they were transported to a medical facility by an ambulance via 119 and received treatment, but unfortunately, they passed away,” the committee added. The organization extended condolences to Yoo’s friends and family and stated it will “closely monitor the situation and take necessary follow-up measures.”
The original incident occurred during the Seoul Race half marathon, a running event held in the South Korean capital. Yoo, known for her fitness content and running-focused social media presence, had been participating in the race when she collapsed near its conclusion. Emergency services responded to the scene and transported her for medical care, but she did not survive.
A cause of death has not yet been determined.