HONG KONG – Award-winning South Korean actress Lee Se-young, known internationally for her role in the hit drama The Red Sleeve, participated in the prestigious Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2026 earlier today. The star confirmed her involvement shortly after the race began by sharing photographic evidence of her registration via social media, joining thousands of international athletes in the massive annual event.
Lee’s participation was initially reported by local media outlets, with confirmation swiftly following from the actress herself. She uploaded a photo to her official Instagram story featuring her marathon bib, clearly displaying the participant number H3486. The image was captioned with the simple yet definitive location tag “Hongkong.” A separate photo showed a commemorative T-shirt bearing the official logo of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, further verifying her presence at the city’s premier road race.
International Celebrities Fueling Global Race Participation
The inclusion of high-profile celebrities like Lee Se-young underscores the growing international appeal of Asian marathon events, moving beyond professional athletes to draw personalities from the entertainment sphere. While the specific distance Lee ran—whether the 10-kilometer challenge, the half-marathon, or the full 42.195-kilometer distance—was not immediately detailed, her involvement adds a notable dash of celebrity glamour to the already immense logistical undertaking of the race.
The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon is one of Asia’s largest running events, traditionally drawing over 70,000 participants. The course challenges runners with the city’s unique topography, including challenging stretches over sections of the Tsing Ma Bridge and through Hong Kong’s various tunnels, offering iconic views of Victoria Harbour and the Kowloon skyline.
For the organizers, featuring well-known figures often helps boost tourism and international registration. For fans of Lee Se-young, who garnered critical acclaim for her nuanced dramatic performances, her choice to tackle the physical rigors of a major marathon provides a rare glimpse into her personal life and dedication outside of the film set.
A Focus on Personal Achievement
Lee, a prominent figure in the highly competitive South Korean television industry, joins a diverse group of public figures embracing endurance sports as a form of personal achievement and fitness advocacy. Her social media update, shared in real-time, instantly created a buzz among international followers who cheered her efforts, focusing attention not just on the overall race results but on individual stories of perseverance.
Marathons, particularly those with major corporate backing like the Standard Chartered event, serve as significant economic and cultural anchors for host cities. They require massive public coordination, involving temporary road closures, extensive volunteer efforts, and engagement from law enforcement and emergency services.
Lee Se-young’s successful participation in the 2026 event in Hong Kong highlights the continuous convergence of celebrity culture and global athletic challenges, offering inspiration to both her dedicated fan base and the broader running community. As the event concluded, attention now turns to the official timing results and the overall impact of such international engagement on promoting wellness and sports tourism across Asia.
