SHINee member Minho has apologized after footage circulated online appearing to show another runner pushing him from behind during a marathon, according to 한겨레. In an Instagram post on November 3, the singer and actor said he was sorry for disappointing people and stated that he would not accept the result of the race.
The controversy centers on the JTBC Seoul Marathon held on November 1, where Minho completed the full 42.195km course in 3 hours and 18 seconds — his first full marathon, 한겨레 reports. Video later shared on online communities appeared to show a runner behind him placing a hand near his lower back and pushing him forward, prompting accusations that race rules had been broken.
Why it matters
The case has drawn wide attention in Korea because it involves a well-known idol athlete and because the rules at stake are explicit. According to 한겨레, the Korea Athletics Federation competition rules followed by the JTBC Seoul Marathon prohibit runners from receiving physical assistance that could help propel them in the direction of travel. The only exception is helping a fallen runner back to their feet. The rules state that such assistance can result in disqualification without a prior warning.
For recreational runners who train for months to post honest times, the suggestion that a competitor was pushed along touches on fairness in a sport built on individual effort. Minho's own statement acknowledged that concern, expressing respect for runners who put in long hours of training.
What Minho said
In his Instagram post, Minho wrote that he was sorry to have disappointed many people at the marathon he took part in on November 1, according to 한겨레. He attributed what happened to his own shortcomings and said that as someone who values and loves sport, he felt deeply ashamed. He again asked forgiveness for causing concern.
He went on to say that he would take greater care so the same thing does not happen again and would keep working to show a better side of himself. Minho stated that he, too, would not accept this marathon's result and would not forget the lesson he learned from the episode. He closed by expressing respect for runners who sweat through countless hours of effort, 한겨레 reported.
Other Korean outlets covered the story with a similar focus. 경향신문 examined why the hand on his back became the central issue, while 뉴스1 highlighted the sub-three-hour finishing time that drew scrutiny. 한국경제 and 뉴시스 both reported his apology, with 뉴시스 quoting his remark about causing disappointment and citing his "shortcomings."
The rule at the center of the dispute
The provision in question is narrow but clear. Under the federation rules cited by 한겨레, a runner may not receive physical help that aids forward movement, apart from assisting someone who has fallen. The penalty can be disqualification, and it can be imposed without a warning first.
That framing explains why the footage drew such a strong reaction. A push from behind, even a brief one, falls squarely within the kind of assistance the rule describes. The debate online has focused less on the finish time itself than on whether the contact amounted to prohibited help and what should follow from it.
Minho's decision to disavow the result does not by itself settle the question of an official outcome. Race organizers and the federation have not been reported as issuing a ruling in the coverage summarized here, and no disciplinary decision has been disclosed.
A first full marathon under scrutiny
The race marked Minho's debut at the full marathon distance, and his time of just over three hours is a strong result for a first attempt. That achievement is now overshadowed by the dispute over how it was produced. The contrast between the celebratory framing of a first finish and the subsequent rules question has kept the story in Korean headlines for days.
His apology was notable for its directness. Rather than disputing the footage or minimizing the contact, Minho accepted that the episode stemmed from his own failings and said he would not claim the result. He also positioned himself alongside the broader running community, voicing respect for those who train seriously — a gesture aimed at the amateur runners who make up most marathon fields.
What remains to be seen is whether race officials or the Korea Athletics Federation will formally review the incident and issue any ruling on his result.
