'Every Day I Run Again Is a Dream': Lee Bong-ju Eyes Full Marathon Return

"When I was really sick, I thought, 'Will I ever be able to run again?' I even prayed, 'Please, just let me run for 30 minutes.' Even that felt like an impossible dream. But these days, I'm living that impossible dream every single day. Each day is full of happiness — it feels like I'm living a brand new life." Lee Bong-ju, widely known as Korea's "national marathoner," said in a recent interview with the Seoul Economic Daily at Banwol Sports Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, that he has recovered about 80 percent of his health. "I want to build my body back to the point where I can run a full marathon again, and deliver the message to people that 'you can do it too,'" he said. The title "national marathoner" precedes Lee's name for good reason. He won a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, claimed back-to-back gold medals at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games and the 2002 Busan Asian Games, and stood atop the podium at the 2001 Boston Marathon. In 2009, he received the Cheongnyong Medal, the highest honor awarded to athletes in Korea. The Korean national record he set at the 2020 Tokyo International Marathon — 2 hours, 7 minutes and 20 seconds — remains unbroken. Even after retiring in 2009, Lee continued to run for the development of Korean marathon. Then in 2020, he was forced to an abrupt stop. A rare disease called dystonia had struck without warning. "My muscles contracted and twisted, and my body gradually bent over. I couldn't even straighten my back," he recalled. "A person who used to run dozens of kilometers every day was suddenly confined to a wheelchair overnight. I truly felt like I was going to die." He added that daily massages from his wife, support from medical staff, and steady rehabilitation have helped him recover rapidly since last year. On the day of the interview, Lee had already completed a roughly 10-kilometer morning run along a course connecting three cities — Yongin, Hwaseong, and Suwon — a visible testament to his recovery. On March 8, Lee served as a pace maker for the first time in his life at the Bucheon International 10km Road Race. It was his way of repaying fans who had organized a "Lee Bong-ju Get Well Marathon" event to wish him a speedy recovery during his battle with dystonia. "At that time, my back was so severely bent that I could barely manage three laps around a 400-meter track, but it gave me tremendous strength," he said. "This time, I wanted to be the one giving strength to others, so I took on the challenge of being a 10km pace maker for the first time." He added with a smile, "I participated to give others strength, but instead, so many people cheered me on and worried about my health — I didn't know what to do with myself." Lee completed the 10 kilometers with a time in the 48-minute range. Recently, Lee has been spending more days speaking about "hope" in front of audiences, accepting invitations for lectures at companies and schools. "I try to inspire people through my experience of succeeding on the world stage despite the handicap of having flat feet and legs of different lengths," he said. "I also tell them the story of how I couldn't even walk 50 meters because of a rare disease, but recovered my health through the same never-give-up determination I had during marathons. People say they are moved and that they gain hope, thinking 'I can do anything too.' That's when I feel the proudest," he said emphatically. Korea has entered an era of 10 million runners. Asked about the surging marathon boom, the "national marathoner" offered both enthusiasm and caution. "As someone who has done marathons my entire life, this trend is truly welcome. Marathon is an excellent exercise both physically and mentally," Lee said. "But while the number of marathon events and runners has grown significantly, I hope people think about safety above all else. Rather than putting the desire for faster times first, I hope they enjoy marathons gradually and without overdoing it." What is the dream of a man who has laced up his running shoes once again? It is to establish a marathon foundation. "I want to create a marathon foundation to help junior athletes training in difficult conditions and protect their dreams," Lee said. "The pool of marathon athletes has been thinning recently, and I want to continuously support young runners through the foundation. I want to contribute so that the next generation can train in a better environment."

'Every Day I Run Again Is a Dream': Lee Bong-ju Eyes Full Marathon Return

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