My Shirtless Seoul Run: Did I Get Banned? The Naked Truth About Topless Jogging in Korea

Sweat, scenery, and a potential ejection! Running shirtless in Korea until they tell me to stop. Here is what the Dojeon team knows about this trending issue that has everyone so hot and bothered!

Image: Running Shirtless in Korea - Jung Hae - Photo: Pintrest

What’s The Big Deal?

Law enforcement in Seoul and the surrounding areas has implemented a ban on shirtless running in parks, such as Yeouido Park along the Han River. The reason behind this new ban is based on a catalogue of complaints from pedestrians, stating that loud group runs, runners yelling at pedestrians, and shirtless runners have been causing havoc.

These new rules banning shirtless running have since been posted on banners, though they are not yet officially enforced by law, but be aware that they are spreading to other districts. It’s part of a broader effort to manage growing complaints about park crowding and behavior from runners.

Having spent several years going to these parks ourselves, the Dojeon team is curious exactly who has been complaining. The majority of Koreans work long hours and have no outside space in their living areas, since most Koreans live in multi-story apartments. So their vice is running outside to maintain their health. Why has this ban come into place now?

Idols & Public Figures

Korean idols and celebrities have also been snapped running shirtless in the past, and of course, as K-pop opens up, many dance routines also involve little clothing or being shirtless, so what is the issue?

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A great example of this is BTOB’s Minhyuk, who performed shirtless at Waterbomb Seoul festival, or when actor Jin Tae-hyun talked publicly about running shirtless. He mentioned that sometimes he runs shirtless at tracks or parks during less crowded hours, and that he has been asked to cover up, but believes there is no legal basis to prohibit it. He proposes that maybe specific laws or designated times/places could be used.

Final thoughts

Since there are no official laws in place, only basic bans, many people, including some of the Dojeon team, view them as being ineffective and just a deterrent. We also believe that they will not be effective with the Gen Z audience, and other critics have also mentioned that it’s unfair to target runners specifically, while others using the parks aren’t held to similar behavioral standards.

Did we get kicked out?

In our experience, as a team, we have never had any bad experiences running along the Han River. In fact, although we have not taken part in shirtless running, we have experienced being present in a running group where a few members took off their shirts. The feedback was rather positive, with passers by saying that we were doing "a good job", and that the "weather was too hot to run".

In my opinion, being there while people are running topless is no different from being in a country like Spain, where the weather is hot during the summer, than wearing any clothes. For most women, who don't like a bit of eye candy while taking a walk in the park. At the end of the day, as long as the runners are keeping to themselves and not getting in the way of others, this ban seems like a waste of time and unenforceable, so we are sure that it will get ignored.

We would love to hear your opinion on this controversial topic. Do you agree or disagree with banning topless running in Seoul?

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