SEOUL, July 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Lotte Property & Development announced on Sunday the successful completion of the 2025 Lotte Aquathlon, a unique endurance race that drew more than 800 participants to Seoul’s iconic Songpa District for a combination of open-water swimming and vertical running.
Now in its fourth year, the Lotte Aquathlon combines a 1.5-kilometer swim across Seokchon Lake with a grueling stair climb up 2,917 steps inside the 123-story Lotte World Tower—Korea’s tallest building. The event, launched in 2022, continues to gain popularity among athletes seeking a challenging but scenic urban race.
This year’s competition featured 162 returning athletes from previous editions, as well as several foreign participants. In the men’s division, 23-year-old Jang Hyun-il of Cheonan City Hall claimed first place with a time of 44 minutes and 25 seconds. In the women’s division, 42-year-old Lee Ji-hyun topped the field with a time of 53 minutes and 18 seconds.
“It’s my third year participating, but winning for the first time feels especially meaningful,” said Jang. “The lake was clean, and the water temperature ideal for swimming.”
Winners received medals and Spider-branded gift vouchers worth 1 million won for first place, 700,000 won for second, and 500,000 won for third.
Among the standout participants was 74-year-old Park Jong-seop, the oldest competitor in the race. “The event was impeccably organized. Swimming in clean water even felt like a skincare treatment,” he joked.
Lotte has invested in ongoing environmental restoration efforts at Seokchon Lake, resulting in top-grade water quality ratings in most categories last year.
“This distinctive event, set against the backdrop of Seokchon Lake and Lotte World Tower, has become a symbol of harmony between urban life and environmental consciousness,” said Lotte Property & Development CEO Jang Jae-hoon.
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