Touching Jellyfish at the Beach Can Cause 'Breathing Difficulties'... Jellyfish Stings in Gangwon-do Increased 7 Times

If You Experience Abnormal Reactions Such as Difficulty Breathing, Call 119

As reports of jellyfish stings to 119 emergency services surged along the East Coast of Gangwon, the Gangwon Provincial Fire Department has urged beachgoers to exercise extra caution.

As the peak of the summer vacation season arrives, there have been incidents of jellyfish stings at beaches nationwide, requiring caution. [Image source=Getty Images]

The number of cases handled by 119 paramedics also increased from 11 in July last year to 17 this July. There were 19 cases in 2021, 15 in 2022, and 4 in 2023, with 6 cases reported so far this July, indicating that incidents occur every year.

In fact, around 10 a.m. on July 22, two children were stung on their legs by jellyfish at a makeshift beach in Pohang City. On August 16 last year, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., 13 people were stung by jellyfish and transported to hospitals at beaches such as Heunghwan-ri, Odori, Buk-gu, Pohang City.

Gangwon Province also emphasized precautions for beachgoers. They advised wearing full-body swimsuits to minimize skin exposure and prevent jellyfish stings, and especially warned against touching jellyfish out of curiosity.

Appearance of Nomura's jellyfish. [Photo by Yonhap News]

If stung by a jellyfish, the affected area should be rinsed with seawater and vinegar applied to neutralize the toxin as first aid. If symptoms do not improve or abnormal reactions such as difficulty breathing occur, immediate reporting to 119 is necessary.

Jellyfish [Photo by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Fire Department]

During the peak vacation season, jellyfish sting incidents are also significant at beaches like Haeundae Beach in Busan. It is reported that over 2,900 jellyfish sting cases have occurred at famous beaches nationwide this summer alone (as of the 4th).

On the 6th, Busan City announced, "As of the 5th, 947 jellyfish sting cases were recorded at six of the seven beaches in Busan?Haeundae, Songjeong, Gwangalli, Songdo, Imrang, and Ilgwang?excluding Dadaepo." The most frequent location was Haeundae with 328 cases, followed by Songjeong (217), Songdo (144), Gwangalli (120), Ilgwang (98), and Imrang (40).