What Is SHINee Minho’s Marathon Controversy? Here’s All You Need To Know!
Video footage from the event soon sparked questions about SHINee Minho's performance.
Popular K-pop group SHINee’s Minho has landed in an unexpected controversy following his participation in the 2026 JTBC Seoul Marathon. The singer participated in the event on November 1 and completed the full 42.195-kilometre race in three hours and 18 seconds. However, footage from the event soon sparked questions about his performance. Read on to know all about it.
SHINee’s Minho Faces Backlash Over Marathon Video
After finishing the marathon, Minho posted a picture of his timing certificate on social media. The certificate showed that he completed each kilometre in an average of four minutes and 16 seconds. He finished 1,137th overall and 1,112th in the men’s category.
The singer also shared how he felt about the race. He admitted that the final 12 kilometres were difficult and tested his strength and determination. Although he missed his target by just 18 seconds, he was happy to have completed the challenge and said he wanted to try again.
However, things soon took a different turn when a video from the marathon started spreading online. The clip showed a man, believed to be his pacemaker, running behind the singer and pushing him around his lower back. This raised questions about whether Minho had received physical help during the race. Marathon rules do not allow runners to receive physical assistance, as it could give them an unfair advantage.
Later, the singer took to social media and addressed the issue. He apologised and accepted responsibility for what happened. He also said that he felt ashamed as someone who genuinely loves and respects the sport. Minho further announced that he would give up his marathon result and would not claim the record.
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A day later, on November 4, the JTBC Seoul Marathon organisers accepted his decision and removed his official finishing time. However, they have yet to make a final decision regarding the rules for amateur and Masters runners.
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First Published: November 05, 2026 2:12 PM
