South Korea has entered the battle against bedbugs in response to a surge in reported cases, putting bathhouses, university dorms, and train stations on high alert across the nation.

The government's announcement of a four-week campaign aims to eliminate the bloodsucking pests, prompted by thirty suspected or confirmed infestations reported since the end of October. In contrast, the country had been nearly bedbug-free after successful past extermination efforts, with only nine infestations reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention (KDCA) since 2014.

The unexpected resurgence of bedbugs, echoing similar outbreaks in France and the United Kingdom and an uptick in cases in the United States, is causing concern among the public. Social media is flooded with images and accounts of encounters with the insects.

Pest control companies are overwhelmed with requests for assistance, and some websites have created dedicated sections for users to share tips on dealing with the pests. Suggestions range from avoiding cinemas to standing on public transport.

Experts predict the current outbreak will worsen before improving. They believe that part of the heightened concern is people's fear of social stigma if bitten. Although bedbugs don't transmit diseases, the itching from their bites can lead to sleep loss and secondary skin infections if scratched vigorously. Being bitten by these insects, which are less than 1 cm in diameter, is also perceived as socially embarrassing.

In Seoul, the city government is launching a "Bedbug Reporting and Management System" and a "Zero Bedbugs City, Seoul" initiative. This involves inspecting 3,175 lodging facilities, bathhouses, and jjimjilbangs (Korean saunas with rooms of varying temperatures), particularly in areas with a high concentration of accommodation and bathhouses popular among foreign residents, according to a press release from the city government.