Deadly "Parangorimun-eo" with 10 Times Cyanide Toxicity Appears on Jeju Beach... Vacationers Beware

Discovered at Conan Beach... "Do Not Touch Under Any Circumstances"

As the peak summer vacation season begins, a blue-ringed octopus, which possesses toxicity more than 10 times stronger than cyanide, has been found off the coast of Jeju, prompting special caution from tourists.

On the 2nd, the Jeju Coast Guard announced that they received a report from a tourist who discovered a blue-ringed octopus at Conan Beach in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, around 4 p.m. the previous day. The tourist caught the blue-ringed octopus in a plastic container and handed it over to the Coast Guard, who then delivered it to the National Institute of Fisheries Science.

Blue-ringed octopus found on the afternoon of the 1st at Conan Beach, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City. [Image provided by Jeju Maritime Police Station]

The blue-ringed octopus is only about 10 cm in body length but is known as one of the most lethal marine creatures due to its powerful venom. It carries a potent toxin (tetrodotoxin) that is more than 10 times stronger than cyanide and over 1,000 times stronger than that of pufferfish.

Even about 1 mg of its venom can threaten life, and if a person is bitten by a blue-ringed octopus, respiratory failure and total paralysis may occur, potentially leading to death. Additionally, the mucus on the surface of the blue-ringed octopus’s body and its ink also contain toxic substances, so it must never be handled with bare hands.

The blue-ringed octopus mainly inhabits subtropical seas such as the South Pacific Ocean. However, due to global warming raising sea temperatures, it is occasionally found in Jeju and some parts of the southern coast. Previously, in September last year, a blue-ringed octopus was found on the rocky shore of Soesokkak in Seogwipo City.

A Jeju Coast Guard official emphasized, "If you find a blue-ringed octopus while swimming or gathering seafood, do not touch it under any circumstances and report it to the Coast Guard."

Summer Vacationers Continue to Visit Jeju... Foreign Tourists Surge

On the 11th of last month, vacationers visiting Hyeopjae Beach in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, are enjoying water activities. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, as the peak summer vacation season begins, the number of tourists visiting Jeju continues to rise. According to the Jeju Tourism Association, 43,477 tourists visited Jeju last Friday (July 28), an increase of 25.4% (8,812 people) compared to 34,665 visitors on July 22, a week earlier.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Jeju is also increasing. From the beginning of this year through May, 149,908 foreign tourists visited Jeju, more than eight times the 18,568 visitors during the same period last year. By nationality, the numbers are ▲China 43,502 ▲Taiwan 22,522 ▲Thailand 18,832 ▲Singapore 13,487 ▲Japan 12,751. This surge is attributed to the easing of COVID-19 quarantine regulations and the introduction of direct flight routes, which have significantly boosted foreign tourism.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.