Seoul Looks to Kuala Lumpur Model for New Community Running Initiative (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — Seoul plans to launch a pilot car-free running program next spring, allowing residents to jog through parts of the city center on weekend mornings, Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced during a visit to Kuala Lumpur this week.
The initiative takes inspiration from Kuala Lumpur’s “Car-Free Morning,” a municipal fitness program that closes major downtown roads every Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and invites citizens to run freely through the city.
Oh said he observed the event firsthand near the Petronas Twin Towers and was impressed by how it had evolved into a voluntary, citywide exercise culture rather than a media-driven promotional event.
“Runner participation has been growing rapidly in Seoul, and introducing a program like this would help more citizens enjoy the city while strengthening community life,” Oh said during a discussion with AGIKO, the Alumni Society of Korean Institutional Graduates, a network of more than 2,900 Malaysian professionals who studied at Korean universities.
The Seoul pilot is expected to operate on weekend mornings between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., with only partial road closures to minimize disruption to public transportation and traffic. City officials will evaluate resident response and refine the format before deciding on a permanent rollout.
Oh noted that Kuala Lumpur’s car-free running culture felt energetic and youthful, adding that it conveyed a strong sense of urban potential and civic vitality. By contrast, Seoul’s existing running events are largely organized by private media companies rather than being embedded as a routine public amenity.
During the same trip, Oh met more than 70 AGIKO members, who shared how studying in Korea influenced their professional development and reinforced bilateral exchanges. Seoul plans to deepen collaboration with Malaysian alumni networks to broaden global human-capital ties.
On December 8, Oh also met Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Pahdlun Mak Ujud at city hall to discuss follow-up cooperation under the cities’ friendship agreement signed in July.
The two capitals committed to expanding collaboration in sustainable urban development, smart-city initiatives, and cross-border talent exchanges.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
