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CU aims at runners with new targeted convenience stores along Han River

Published: 04 Mar. 2026, 17:21 Updated: 04 Mar. 2026, 17:42

CHO YONG-JUN
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CU Running Station in Yeouido Hanggang Park, western Seoul. [CHO YONG-JUN]

Take a stroll along the Han River — day or night — and you're bound to see groups of people running through the riverside parks. In fact, there are over 3.65 million runners in the country, according to 2025 data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

So perhaps it comes as no surprise that different firms are all trying to cater to the running crowd.

Located at the Yeouido Hanggang Park and 12 minutes away from the Yeouinaru Station, a convenience store called the CU Running Station aims to do just that. The new location features not just the regular food and beverages, but also lockers, socks, clothes, towels and even a changing room, all in a two-story building.

The fact that the convenience store aims to attract runners is evident before you even set foot inside — outside, there are drink fridges filled with running-related products.

Running-related products sold at the CU Running Station in Yeouido Hanggang Park, western Seoul. [CHO YONG-JUN]

There were all sorts of protein drinks, electrolyte drinks and water at the leftmost fridge, followed by something you don’t often see in fridges: T-shirts, shorts, Nike socks, hairbands and knee pads. Other fridges also featured vitamin shots, energy gels and high-protein cookies.

The convenience store chain said it decided to put the beverages and clothing items outside so runners can easily choose what to buy before entering the store.

While the convenience store itself is no different from any other CU store around the country, the location also features small pay-to-use lockers, which runners can use to store their bags and clothes before their workouts.

CU Running Station in Yeouido Hanggang Park, western Seoul. [CHO YONG-JUN]

Walking up to the second floor — another thing that sets this location apart from other convenience stores — runners are greeted by changing rooms that are free for anyone to use, one for men and one for women.

There is also a dedicated section with mirrors and power plugs, which the company invites people to use for their curling irons and hairdryers.

Changing rooms at the CU Running Station in Yeouido Hanggang Park, western Seoul. [CHO YONG-JUN]

The upper deck continues with a pop-up zone, where Hypershell, an exoskeleton designed for hikers, was featured on Wednesday. There's also a small BHC fried chicken franchise, the perfect pit stop for a post-run pick-me-up.

With the CU Running Station in Yeouido acting as its flagship branch, the convenience store chain plans to revamp all of its 18 other CU branches along the Han River to stores that can provide running-related products to various degrees.