Runner-friendly cafes are appearing near popular running routes across Korea. The businesses are gaining ground around well-known running destinations, including Seoul's Han River, Olympic Park and Seoul Forest, Busan's Haeundae Beach and the coast of Jeju Island. Customers at these cafes can receive perks, such as beverage discounts and bag storage, by proving they completed a run that day. The concept aims to make post-run coffee or brunch part of a broader wellness routine. It differs from public facilities like the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Runner Station, which offers changing rooms and lockers, or sportswear brands' rental hubs that lend out running shoes and apparel. While the concept began as a way to attract more customers, most cafe operators say they are driven more by enthusiasm for running culture than by profit. "As a runner myself, I made the cafe runner-friendly in May 2025 because I wanted to share running culture," said Kang Dong-won, owner of Evan Coffee in Seoul's Mapo District. "No matter how popular running is, the customer base is inevitably limited, so most