"Grabbed something stuck on the coat, is this it?"... Bedbugs have even penetrated the subway

"Found a bug on my coat in the subway, caught it... Is it a bedbug?"
Seoul reports 17 bedbug cases... Considering use of insecticides

Recently, bedbugs have been repeatedly discovered in public facilities such as jjimjilbangs and university dormitories, and reports of bedbug sightings are spreading through social media (SNS) across various locations.

A photo of a bedbug caught on the KTX by an internet user. [Photo by Online Community]

On the 7th, a post titled "Found a bedbug in a trench coat" was uploaded to an online community, attracting much attention.

The author, Mr. A, said, "I took the Mugunghwa train in Suwon, transferred to the KTX, and then took the subway. I took off my coat and placed it on the desk, and when I saw a bug on the trench coat, I caught it with tissue." He added, "Is this the bedbug people have been talking about lately?" and posted a photo.

The photo showed a tissue stained with blood and a bedbug. However, the author added that it was not confirmed where the bedbug had attached itself.

Seoul reports 17 bedbug cases... Considering alternative insecticides

YouTube channel 'Daheuk' visits a jjimjilbang in Incheon to exterminate bedbugs.
[Photo by YouTube channel 'Daheuk']

Besides Mr. A, many people are asking, "Isn't this a bedbug?" when they find bugs in their homes or sharing photos of bite marks, asking if they are from bedbugs, spreading bedbug fear nationwide.

Seoul city announced that as of the 5th, more than 17 bedbug reports have been received within the city.

Meanwhile, bedbugs are considered the "worst" among pests, difficult to exterminate, and their bites can cause more severe itching than other blood-sucking pests like mosquitoes. Accordingly, Seoul city launched the "Bedbug Zero City Project," utilizing 283 honorary public health monitors to conduct a full survey of 3,175 facilities including bathhouses, jjimjilbangs, and hotels since the 31st of last month.

Seoul Metro is also on high alert regarding bedbugs. According to a Seoul Metro official, since the occurrence of bedbugs in the Seoul area, continuous disinfection has been carried out on subway lines 1 through 8, and professional pest control companies have confirmed that no bedbugs have been found.

Bedbugs found domestically cannot be exterminated with commercial insecticides, so the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is considering the use of alternative insecticides.

Bedbug Prevention Guidelines

○ Prevention
- Do not bring items suspected of being contaminated with bedbugs (used furniture, old books, clothes, travel bags, etc.) into the house carelessly.
- Carefully check clothes and travel items of overseas travelers for bedbugs or signs of bedbugs.
- Repair damaged parts of the house such as cracks and wallpaper to minimize bedbug habitats.

○ Cleaning
- Regularly clean mattresses and indoor spaces using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.
※ Seal vacuum cleaner contents in a plastic bag and dispose of immediately.
- Wash and dry clothes and bedding at high temperatures, and iron if necessary, then store sealed in plastic bags.
- Place clothes or bedding infected with bedbugs in sealed plastic bags and dispose of them.
- Put travel bags in large plastic bags, spray household aerosol insecticide multiple times inside and outside the bag, then seal and store for 2-3 days.
- If bedbugs are found, quickly capture them with tape or kill them by pressing with tissue.

○ Pest Control

- It is effective to spray insecticide on habitats to allow prolonged contact with the insecticide.
(Use Ministry of Environment-approved products, wear personal protective equipment, and follow usage instructions.)
※ Fumigation using vacuum or toxic gases should be performed by professionals.
- Focus spraying on cracks in bedroom walls, door and window gaps, furniture crevices, and beds.

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