"Long Tail Sways, What Is a Mouse Doing in Seoul Subway?"... Commuters Surprised After Work

Brief Appearance at Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station
Seoul Metro Announces Emergency Disinfection Plan

As cases of bedbug infestations continue in Seoul, news has emerged that a rat was spotted in a subway station.

The appearance of a rat at Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station on Seoul Subway Lines 2 and 5.
[Photo by Yonhap News Agency and reader contribution]

According to Yonhap News on the 8th, office worker Ahn (32), who commutes daily by subway, discovered a wriggling rat next to the platform at Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station on Seoul Subway Lines 2 and 5 around 11 p.m. on the 6th.

Ahn said, "I was waiting for the subway to go home when I saw something moving. It was a rat with a long tail hanging down. I was really surprised that a rat could be roaming inside a subway station."

He further testified that the rat was wandering near the subway platform, repeatedly entering and exiting through a small hole.

The Seoul Metro stated that it is very unusual for rats to appear inside subway stations. There have been no complaints related to rats in any station over the past five years.

Seoul Metro also explained that pest control, including rat extermination, is conducted twice a week in the chairman's office and three times a month in the concourse, platforms, and customer safety office (station office).

A representative from Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station said, "We regularly carry out pest control to catch rats and cockroaches. We have never seen rats inside the station nor received any reports."

However, the recent appearance of a rat at Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station shows that despite regular pest control, rats are inhabiting the station.

The appearance of a rat at Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station on Seoul Subway Lines 2 and 5. [Video source=Yonhap News Agency·Provided by reader]

Accordingly, Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station plans to spray rodenticide along the rat's pathways and conduct emergency pest control after subway operations end at 1 a.m. on the 9th.

The Seoul Metro explained, "Since the rodenticide is toxic, pest control will be conducted when no customers are present. We will disinfect not only the Line 2 area where the rat appeared but also the Line 5 area within the same station."

Meanwhile, many infectious diseases such as leptospirosis and hemorrhagic fever are known to be transmitted to humans through rats.

Leptospirosis is transmitted through viruses in rat excrement entering human skin, conjunctiva, or mucous membranes, causing fever, headache, chills, and severe muscle pain.

Hemorrhagic fever is transmitted when rat saliva, urine, or feces dry in the air and infect humans through the respiratory tract. It is also reported to cause sudden high fever, rash, and temporary kidney and liver dysfunction, and if left untreated, can lead to complications.

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