Ka Nung Hyun, 58, from Incheon, South Korea, has lived in Vietnam for more than two decades. He ran his first marathon in 2023 at age 55, which inspired him to think about helping Korean runners in Vietnam.

During a 2023 marathon, Ka saw international runners cheering each other. He said he wanted a similar community for Koreans living in Vietnam, so he created Team Korea. Today Team Korea has around 500 members, and Ka also leads the ERC (ERKE Run Club Vietnam).

About 200 members are preparing for the VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight 2026. They train five or six times a week, often doing long runs of more than 20 km. Ka notes that Vietnamese runners usually train early to avoid heat, while Korean runners prefer evenings and focus on pacing and performance management.

Ka says running can bring people together across language and national borders, creating genuine connections. His story shows how one person's passion can grow into a large, cross‑cultural running community.