An international marathon race with hurdles will take place in the city of Chuncheon, Gangwon Province next month.

City officials and the organizing committee of the Chuncheon World Leisure Sports Festival announced Friday that the "Spartan Race Korea Chuncheon" will be held on June 30th at the Songam Sports Town complex.

A spartan race refers to a marathon combining obstacles such as barbed wires, walls, ropes and mud. 

It is a relatively new leisure sport that began in the U.S. in 2010. Competitions have since been held in some 60 countries.

The Chuncheon spartan race is expected to draw around five thousand participants from over 25 nations, including 15-hundred from overseas.