IRONMAN 70.3 Goseong
Goseong, South Korea · June · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Warm 24 °C (75 °F) sea swim in a sheltered coastal setting
- Run loops through Dinosaur Expo Park on tree-lined roads
- About 1,000 local volunteers and strong community involvement
- Bike along the Hallyeohaesang National Park coast
Watch out for
- Jellyfish stings on face and hands even in a wetsuit
- Many hills on the 90 km (56 mi) bike
- A 500 m (0.3 mi) climb at about 7% repeated three times on the run
- Humid late-June conditions, with highs up to 29 °C (84 °F)
- Remote county, so fly into Busan; English reviews are scarce and bike elevation is not published
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.5
Finishers are upbeat in a handful of reports, but jellyfish stings and hills come up repeatedly. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
A certified course, about 1,000 local volunteers and a sold-out debut, with no complaints found. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
A hilly bike, run climbs, jellyfish and an 8:30 cut-off make it tougher than a typical first 70.3. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.8
Winners run 4:15 to 4:21 with a hilly bike and a repeated run climb. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough2.8
A hilly bike and run in humid conditions. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalCoin flip2.8
Water is about 24 °C (75 °F), borderline, and wetsuit rules are not documented. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.3
24 °C (75 °F) is at the warm edge of comfortable. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.1
A 2024 finisher reported almost no waves. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.4
Rolling start from a pontoon, one lap, with jellyfish. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine2.8
Jellyfish stings on the face and hands, even in a wetsuit, are the recurring theme. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
Not described in the reports found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.7
Local government supports it, but closure details were not found. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.9
Coastline of Hallyeohaesang National Park. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
Not described in the reports found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.8
Many hills; a mid-pack finisher averaged about 30 km (18.6 mi)/h (19 mph). · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.6
Rolling with many hills along the national park; elevation gain over 90 km (56 mi) is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
An out-and-back route. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.5
About 1,000 local volunteers help on course. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.9
A 2026 finisher noted aid with ice, fruit and bananas. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.4
Dinosaur Expo Park with tree-lined roads. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.8
The hill and humid conditions led to walk-running. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling2.6
A 500 m (0.3 mi) climb at about 7% on each of three loops. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.2
Highs of 19 to 29 °C (66 to 84 °F), and humid. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Late June is near the start of the rainy season. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.7
Coastal park with a dinosaur theme. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Three loops in the park. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Near sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.2
A rural county, with no hotel data found. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
No pricing data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Central venue at Danghangpo, with unknown surroundings. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.6
Fly to Busan (PUS) and transfer by road. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
A single-site race. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Small county with no data on dining. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Goseong, South Gyeongsang, South Korea
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 14 June 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- Field size
- About 1,200 athletes
- First held
- 2019
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Swim 1:10, Bike 5:30, Finish 8:30
- Swim venue
- Danghangpo, Goseong coast (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 24 °C (75 °F)
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Many hills along Hallyeohaesang National Park out-and-back (2026 report)
- Run laps
- 3
- Run shade
- Tree-lined roads in Dinosaur Expo Park
- Air temperature
- 18–27 °C (64–81 °F)
- Humidity
- Humid before the rainy season
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Busan Gimhae (PUS)
- Where to stay
- Goseong / Danghangpo
- Booking
- Rural county; no hotel data in sources.
What racers and reviewers say
- Damoang forum (2024 finisher)Raced 2024 · forum · Positive
2024 finisher worried about jellyfish but found temperature suitable and waves nearly absent; finished in 6:22 among about 1,200 athletes. Page itself not fetchable (403).
- Teamblind Korea threadRaced 2024 · forum · Mixed
Swimmer stung on the face by jellyfish despite a 39 minute swim, 192nd of 1,200; commenters say tentacles hit uncovered face and hands and the water was unexpectedly warm.
- Bundang Ironman club (Mango Jelly)Raced 2026 · forum · Mixed
2026 report: many jellyfish at warm-up, a hilly 90 km (56 mi) bike (3:12:45), and a run (2:12:43) where the first hill broke the plan; humid weather before the rainy season.
- Metro Seoul (2023)Raced 2023 · article · Positive
2023 coverage: 900+ triathletes from 21 countries, certified course, about 1,000 local residents volunteering; expo and opening ceremony, 06:40 start.
- TNT Sports / Eurosport debutRaced 2019 · article · Positive
2019 debut sold out with nearly 1,600 age-group athletes from 23 countries and 40 World Championship slots; dinosaur-themed venue.
Show 1 more
- RaceRaves pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
No reviews posted; lists ocean swim, rolling bike, hilly run, one 500 m (1,640 ft) 7% climb per run loop, 24 C (75 F) water.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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