Bedbug invasion spreads to Chungcheong region as fear escalates

Social Affairs

Published: 10 Nov. 2023, 19:25 Updated: 10 Nov. 2023, 19:27

Bedbug invasion spreads to Chungcheong region as fear escalates

Workers from a community health center disinfect a room in Yongsan District, central Seoul, Thursday to prevent the spread of bedbugs. [YONHAP]

Public fear of bedbugs in Korea is escalating, with the pests now invading the Chungcheong region.

The city government of Asan in South Chungcheong confirmed on Friday that bedbugs were discovered in a studio apartment in the city, located 90 kilometers (56 miles) south of Seoul.

This marked the first time the Chungcheong provinces have reported a case.

According to the city government, it remains unclear how these bedbugs suddenly appeared in the region, as the studio resident said they had never traveled overseas.

On the same day, another suspected case of bedbugs was reported in Cheonan in South Chungcheong. However, the city government said it could not confirm the case as the discoverer threw away the bug after killing it, and the photo's resolution was low.

According to local governments, bedbugs disappeared in Korea in the 1970s after the government improved residential environments and implemented DDT pesticides through the Saemaeul Movement. However, reports of bedbugs have been rising alarmingly since their appearance in a jjimjilbang, or Korean bathhouse, in Incheon on Oct. 13.

A month before this, in September, there were belated reports of suspected harm by bedbugs, such as rashes and high fever, in a dormitory at Keimyung University in Daegu. The school kept it quiet until disinfection began late last month.

Amid the rising number of bedbug reports, local governments are gearing up to combat infestations.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Friday that it opened a one-stop online channel for people to report suspected cases of bedbugs, the first of its kind nationwide. The reports will be promptly shared with related bureaus of the city government and community health centers.

According to the city government, 232 inquiries regarding bedbugs were made to the Dasan Call Center 120 from Oct. 13 to Monday. Of them, 157 cases were requests for disinfection, including in places such as houses, public facilities and small rooms like gosiwon, or cheap studio apartments for students.

The provincial government of North Chungcheong has also formed a joint headquarters to respond to the spreading bedbug menace.

Gangwon province has allocated 100 million won ($76,000) to inspect accommodations and facilities.

Meanwhile, the government, on the same day, urgently approved the use of eight neonicotinoid pesticides.

The decision was made after studies showed that bedbugs have already built tolerance against pyrethroid insecticides, which had been used to kill bedbugs.

However, the additionally approved eight insecticides can be used only by official institutes, not by individuals.

During the next four weeks, the government and local authorities will focus on inspecting for bedbugs and disinfecting public facilities, including transportation and accommodations.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]