Online Community 'Bindae Sightings' Spread
Coupang States "Will Take Strong Measures Including Lawsuits"
Bugs Found on Coat... Seogyo Public "Disinfecting Daily"
There have been numerous reports of bedbugs being spotted on subways, KTX trains, and other public transportation. As a result, companies are increasingly suffering unwarranted damage simply due to rumors of 'bedbug sightings.'
On the 7th, an online community post claimed that bedbugs were found at a Coupang logistics facility.
Author A said, "Bedbugs were found in Coupang's Goyang Fresh Bag. I don't think I can use Coupang for a while." Another author, B, stated, "Posts are appearing about bedbugs being found in Coupang warehouses in Yongin, Changwon, and Goyang," adding, "There are rumors that they are being transported especially through the Fresh Bag."
The Fresh Bag is a reusable delivery box designed to reduce the use of cardboard boxes when delivering Coupang's Rocket Delivery and Rocket Fresh services.
Reports of "Coupang Freshback Bindae" sightings that appear when searching for "Coupang Bindae" on portal sites. [Photo by Naver]
As the 'Coupang bedbug sightings' spread, local public health centers immediately began investigating Coupang logistics warehouses. However, no bedbugs were found.
In response, Coupang stated that these are "baseless rumors" and announced plans to take strong legal action, including lawsuits, against those spreading false information.
"Found this in my trench coat... Is this a bedbug?"
Earlier, a post about finding a bedbug in a trench coat also became a hot topic online.
Author C said, "I took the Mugunghwa train from Suwon, transferred to the KTX, and then boarded the subway," adding, "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 a tissue. Is this a bedbug?" and posted a photo.
The photo showed a tissue stained with blood and a bedbug. However, C mentioned, "It is unclear where the bedbug came from."
In response, Seoul Metro stated, "The subway that (C) rode is not part of the Seoul subway system," and added, "Since the bedbug outbreak in Seoul, 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."
As 'bedbug fear' spread through online communities, the government formed a Bedbug Government Joint Countermeasures Headquarters and announced plans to manage the situation by creating status boards for each local government to prevent further spread.
Bedbugs are pests that feed on human blood, causing itching and secondary skin infections. Although they do not transmit infectious diseases, their bites can cause more severe itching than other blood-sucking insects like mosquitoes. Due to their resilient nature, they are considered one of the worst pests to eradicate, capable of surviving up to six months without feeding on human or animal blood.
Bedbug Prevention Methods
- Immediately check for spaces where bedbugs may hide upon visiting lodging facilities
※ Gaps in beds, mattresses, sofas, and areas where walls meet furniture
- Avoid storing luggage on the floor or bed even if no bedbugs are visible
- If you have experienced bedbugs during travel, thoroughly disinfect travel items
○ After Confirming Bedbugs
- Spray steam heat into furniture crevices and wall gaps where bedbugs reside
- Use vacuum suction to remove bedbugs
- Treat contaminated fabrics in a dryer at 50~60˚C for about 30 minutes or more
- Apply insecticides (products approved by the Ministry of Environment)
※ Excluding mattresses and bed frames, which require physical pest control
- Avoid using heat fogging or fumigation (so-called smoke bombs), as bedbugs may escape and move elsewhere
- For painted cement walls or plywood, use pyrethroid-based residual spray emulsions
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