Fear and loathing in Seoul as city combats bedbug menace

Bedbugs have appeared in most of Seoul's districts, sparking fear of public areas and facilities.

Skin rashes and itchiness accompany bedbug bites. [KOREA DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION AGENCY]

Bedbugs have appeared in most of Seoul's districts, sparking fear of public areas and facilities.

In October, bedbug infestations were confirmed in Gangnam, Gangbuk, Gangseo, Gwanak, Gwangjin, Guro, Geumcheon, Nowon, Dongdaemun, Dongjak, Seocho, Seongbuk, Yangcheon, Yeongdeungpo, Yongsan, Eunpyeong, Jongno and Jung Districts — 18 out the city's 25 administrative districts.

Given that the bugs have largely appeared in communal spaces and facilities such as saunas, dormitories and motels, people now shun public transportation and public facilities lest they bring the itchy critters home.

A 26-year-old woman, identified by her family name Lee, avoids sitting on carpeted seats on the subway during her daily commute from Ilsan, northern Gyeonggi, to Gangdong District, eastern Seoul.

“I cannot believe there are bedbugs in Korea in 2023 when we used to be bedbug-free,” she said.

She experienced the nightmare that is cimex lectularius while traveling in Europe, suffering bedbug bites 10 times itchier than mosquito bites. Now she takes precautionary measures, worried that bedbugs may lurk beneath the subway seats.

A 27-year-old woman, identified by her family name Kim, also takes precautions.

“Laundry is always the first thing I do when I return home, where I live with my family," she said. "I worry about bringing bedbugs home.”

Social media is flooded with unease and fear over the bedbug menace.

Some people write they won't take trains from now on. Others say they have canceled movie tickets. Some university students even asked schools to switch to virtual classes for fear of living in an infested dormitory.

The bedbug scare began when the pests appeared in a dormitory at Keimyung University in Daegu in September and a sauna in Incheon last month.

The pests invaded the capital soon after.

In late October, health authorities in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, confirmed that the bugs had appeared at a gosiwon, a cheap studio apartment for students.

Exterminating bedbugs entirely is no easy feat.

Bedbugs do not like brightly lit environments, preferring to hide in the dark. Photos provided by a clearing company show bedbugs in electrical sockets and fire detectors and underneath mattresses and sofas.

The nocturnal critters feed on humans — more specifically, their blood — while they sleep at night.

Although bedbugs transmit no diseases to people, their bites can result in skin rashes, itchiness and secondary skin infections.

The bugs can survive 120 days straight without feeding, especially when the indoor temperature is above 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). One bedbug can lay around 200 eggs in its lifetime.

“Bedbug bites are extremely itchy because around 30 to 50 bugs can bite you all over your body at night,” said Yang Young-cheol, a professor of Environmental Health and Safety at Eulji University. “If this repeats, it can cause huge mental stress.”

Time and demographics are not on Korea's side.

“Confirmed cases show the bugs are from overseas,” Yang said. “With the growing number of inbound international tourists, it's only a matter of time before bedbugs spread nationwide.”

What makes this infestation even worse is that mere household pesticides won't eliminate the threat.

“The bedbugs have evolved to become pesticide-resistant and appeared around the world,” said Lee Seung-hwan, a professor of applied biology and chemistry at Seoul National University.

“Before the recent bedbug crisis in France, these unconquerable bugs attacked Britain and the United States.”

Another cleaning company said, “People cannot vanquish these pests by spraying generic pesticides on their bedding and furniture. It requires multiple professional treatments from pest control companies.”

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) says it will not conduct epidemiological investigations on bedbug cases because the pests do not transmit diseases to humans.

The KDCA, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism participated in a governmental talk on Tuesday to discuss ways to stop bedbug infestations.

The Overseas Infectious Disease Reporting Center at Incheon Airport plans to explain prevention and management measures to inbound and outbound passengers and companies importing goods starting Wednesday.

According to the KDCA's report on controlling bedbugs, people should check the headboards of beds, carpets and mattresses.

It also recommends people place their suitcases on racks. Along with heat and steam treatments, vacuuming and sterilizing using dryers can help prevent infestations. Using pyrethroid insecticide can also prove effective.

BY JANG SEO-YUN [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]