At the 1993 East Asian Games, the athletics events were held at the Yuanshen Sports Centre Stadium in Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

The host country, China, dominated the proceedings by winning the most gold medals and having the highest overall total.

Qu Yunxia won the 1500 metres – an event that she went on to set a long-standing world record in at the 1993 Chinese National Games.

The hammer throw saw 18-year-old Koji Murofushi (later an Olympic champion) reach his first international podium, winning a bronze medal.

Three athletes reached the podium in two individual events: Li Yong-Ae of North Korea won silver medals in the long and triple jump, her teammate Choi Ok-Soon was the 800 m and 1500 m bronze medallist, and Lee Myung-Sun won the javelin silver and shot put bronze.