CU opens Korea’s first ‘running station’ c-store
Published on: Mar 3, 2026
New location combines facilities, gear and community features for urban runners.
CU has opened Korea’s first “running station” convenience store in Seoul’s Yeouido district, introducing a format designed specifically for the growing number of urban runners. The new flagship location transforms the traditional c‑store into a multi‑purpose space offering storage, changing areas, curated running gear and community‑centric amenities.
The launch follows a successful pilot at three Han River–area stores where CU installed lockers and changing rooms. The company reported that runner traffic increased significantly during the trial, with sales of drinks, ready‑to‑eat foods and ramen rising more than 20%.
The new Yeouido running station brings these features together in a more advanced, two‑floor concept. The first floor serves as an all‑in‑one zone where runners can store belongings in unmanned lockers and purchase running essentials.
The second floor functions as a rest and experience space with changing rooms, a recovery lounge and bathrooms. It also features collaboration zones, including a pop‑up area with wearable robotics brand Hypershell allowing customers to try and rent its AI‑based running‑assist device. The retailer is also partnering with running platform Runday to offer integrated programs that include gear trials and run tracking.
CU plans to expand the Running Station model to 18 additional stores near the Han River parks, creating a dedicated network of running hubs. The company will also link its PocketCU app with running platforms to support route recommendations, challenges and rewards.
