Busan is good

Busan, Ranked No. 1 in Child Well-being… Mayor Park Heong-joon to Join 2025 Save the Children Global Kids Marathon

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Mayor Park Heong-joon announced that the 2025 Save the Children Global Kids Marathon will be held at 9:30 AM on May 3 at Samnak Ecological Park in Sasang-gu.

This charity-based experiential marathon is organized to raise awareness and support for children suffering from war and disaster. Families and children run together, and all participation fees are donated to Save the Children’s humanitarian relief programs.

More than 1,500 people, including children and citizens, are expected to participate.

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<Event Overview – 2025 Save the Children Global Kids Marathon>

• ●Date & Time: Saturday, May 3, 2025, 09:30–15:00

• ●Venue: Samnak Ecological Park, Sasang-gu

• ●Participants: Approx. 1,500 citizens (children must be accompanied by guardians)

• ●Main Program: Opening ceremony, 4km mini-marathon, interactive booths

• ●Participation Fee: Fully donated to humanitarian support projects

• ●Organizers: Save the Children, Yonhap News, etc.

• ●Special Guests: Oh Joon (Chairperson, Save the Children Korea), Lee Sang-gyu (Chairperson, Busan Child Welfare Support Association), and others

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Participants will run a 4km mini-marathon course under the theme SAVE Rescue Mission.

Throughout the course, they will take on missions such as “rescuing children from disaster zones” or “delivering relief supplies to children in danger.”

Save the Children, an international NGO dedicated to children’s rights, will host booths showcasing its global humanitarian projects. Participants can engage in activities like Children’s Rights Jenga and others that help them empathize with children in crisis and naturally learn the value of giving and caring.

According to the 2024 Korean Child Well-being Survey by Save the Children and Seoul National University’s Social Welfare Research Center, Busan ranked first among 17 cities and provinces nationwide.

Busan received the highest overall score in eight categories, including:

• ●Health

• ●Subjective happiness

• ●Relationships

• ●Material conditions

• ●Safety

• ●Educational environment

• ●Living conditions

• ●Positive character development

Additionally, Busan became the first metropolitan city in Korea to receive UNICEF’s Child-Friendly City certification in May 2019. The city is now working toward an advanced-level certification.

Under the vision “Child-Friendly City, Busan, Where Children's Rights Are Realized,” the city is pursuing 62 key initiatives across four areas:

• ●Rights infrastructure

• ●Safety and protection

• ●Health and medical care

• ●Play and leisure

Mayor Park will convey the following message during the event:
“I believe the children here today will grow into warm-hearted individuals who listen to the struggles of others and into responsible citizens who understand that even small actions can change the world.
We will continue building Busan into a happy city for children and a great place to raise them—and I hope Save the Children will be a strong partner along that journey.”

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[Attachment 1: Event Poster]

[Attachment 2: Event Schedule]

Time	Program	Remarks
09:30–09:40	Opening guidance
09:40–09:55	Opening ceremony & welcome remarks	Including Mayor’s speech
09:55–10:00	Stretching
10:00–10:10	Group photo & start line instructions
10:10	Fast group starts
10:15	Slow group starts
Until 15:00	Post-run activities & experience booths