Seoul Attempts to Control Bedbug Infestations

5 Nov 2023

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SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) — The Seoul metropolitan government reported Sunday it has received 17 cases of bedbugs, raising worries of a rapid spread of the pests in the densely populated capital with 9.4 million people.

The city has allocated a budget of 500 million won (US$381,000) to citywide endeavors to prevent infestations from escalating, particularly in neighborhoods with poor sanitation conditions.

In line with these efforts, the city will provide residents in those areas with a self-checklist to educate themselves about bedbugs, along with disinfectant.

Last Thursday, health officials discovered bedbugs in a goshiwon, or a short-term budget accommodation, in a deprived area in the city’s central Jung-gu area. They found bedbugs on the mattresses and the wallpaper of the goshiwon.

One private disinfection service company told Yonhap News Agency that it was getting two to three calls every day about bedbugs. The company said it had completed cleaning service in some 80 areas in the city last month, adding the bugs must have spread into a far wider area than expected.

Workers disinfect a university dorm room in the southeastern city of Daegu on Oct. 19, 2023, following a report of bedbugs. (Yonhap)

The city has established a “bedbug report center,” allowing people to quickly alert the city of bedbug sightings via public health centers or the city’s special 120 Dasan public call service number. Reports can also be filed through a special banner on the city’s homepage.

Once reports are filed, the city’s ward offices will dispatch authorities to inspect the reported areas and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and necessary insect prevention measures.

Seoul is currently conducting intensive hygiene inspections of bedbug-prone public facilities, such as hotels, other types of accommodations, public bathhouses and Korean public saunas called “jjimjilbang.”

In collaboration with ward offices, the city has started to inspect 3,175 such public facilities since late October to evaluate bedding maintenance and facility disinfection conditions. The city will continue with the inspections through the end of the year.