At 10 a.m. on the 29th of last month, near Yangjae Citizen's Forest Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul, at the Bridge of Wishes along Yeoui Stream, 20 women in their 40s gathered in small groups, all wearing matching white windbreakers bearing the logo for Yuhan-Kimberly's 'Depend Style Running Class.' Although a chilly wind blew through the trees with deep autumn foliage, the participants' faces were full of vitality. As water jets shot up from a fountain installed in the stream to the sound of music, the running class began.
The participants in Yuhan-Kimberly's 'Depend Style Running Class' held that day were women who experience urinary incontinence and want to add vitality to their daily lives through exercise. Some had just started running, while others were attempting it for the first time that day. Wearing liners and pads from Yuhan-Kimberly's incontinence-specific product line, 'Depend Style,' the participants ran 3 km along Yeoui Stream and Yangjae Stream. The products are similar in shape to sanitary napkins but are optimized for moisture absorption.
Before the run, Coach Lee Jin-ae, a former track and field athlete, led the warm-up. Stretching exercises followed, loosening joint movements sequentially from the ankles to the hips, lower back, and shoulders. The coach also guided participants on running posture, instructing them to tuck their chins, maintain long breaths, and ensure their feet land directly beneath their bodies.
After warming up, the participants lined up in two rows and began to run. Although some participants who were not accustomed to running fell behind, the approximately 30-minute run concluded without anyone giving up midway. At 11 a.m., when everyone returned to the starting point, water jets once again burst from the fountain accompanied by music from the movie "Harry Potter."
Kim, 42, who participated in the event and is from Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, is a mother of four. Kim said, "Until now, I didn't know the methods and just ran blindly," adding, "This time, I learned how to stretch and how to run." She continued, "I was shocked when I realized I had urinary incontinence without knowing it, but using the pads was good because they can be used even in active situations."
Lee, 47, who lives in Bundang-gu, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, also said she participated in the event because she wanted to start running. Lee stated, "The liner stayed well in place without moving around and absorbed well, making it comfortable."
A survey of participants also revealed experiences of hesitating to engage in activities due to worry about urinary incontinence. In a survey conducted by Yuhan-Kimberly among the participants that day, 17 out of 18 respondents (94.4%) answered that they had hesitated to exercise or go out in the past three months for fear of leaking urine. Regarding the change felt most significantly during the running class, 9 respondents (50%) cited "being able to run more comfortably by focusing on breathing and pace," while 6 respondents (33.3%) selected "reduced worry about leaking while running."
Yuhan-Kimberly planned this as its second experiential event following the LINE Dance Class in July last month. The purpose is to inform consumers who are reluctant to reveal their struggles with urinary incontinence or who substitute sanitary napkins for dedicated products of the utility of specialized items. Lee Min-jin, manager in charge of Depend Style, said, "We planned this event because many people have recently become interested in running, regardless of age." She added, "I hope that active individuals can enjoy their daily lives confidently without being restricted or held back by urinary incontinence."
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