Rat Spotted on Bungeoppang Counter Shocks Public: "You Have to Give Up on Hygiene to Eat Street Food"

Hygiene Concerns Rise Over Winter Street Food
Annual Increase in Rat-Related Complaints in Seoul

As reports of rat sightings in downtown Seoul have been noticeably increasing, a video showing a rat eating crumbs inside a fish-shaped pastry (Bungeoppang) street vendor stall before business hours has rapidly spread online. The footage, which shows the rat roaming around on top of the storage counter even as the person filming tries to chase it away, has heightened public concern over hygiene. On the 10th, a video titled "The Reason You Shouldn't Buy Fish-Shaped Pastries from Street Vendors" was posted on online communities and social networking services (SNS).

A rat appearing on a street vendor's stall. Online community

This video, edited from footage filmed by a citizen last month, shows a rat inside a Bungeoppang stall before it opened for business. In the video, the rat is seen climbing onto the pastry storage counter and eating crumbs. After watching the video, online users commented, "Does the owner know?", "I can't buy from there anymore," "Tell us where this is," "A pest control worker said there are more rats these days," and "You have to give up on hygiene if you want to eat street food," among other reactions.

Over 9,000 Rat-Related Complaints in Seoul in the Past Five Years

Meanwhile, reports of rat sightings in Seoul have been steadily increasing. In the past five years alone, more than 9,000 complaints have been filed. According to data submitted by Assemblyman Kim Wisang of the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on October 12, the number of rat-related reports rose from 1,279 in 2020 to 1,886 in 2023, and reached 2,181 last year. This year, as of July, 1,555 cases have already been recorded.

Leaving food waste unattended in commercial areas such as restaurants is cited as a major cause of rat infestations. In addition, factors such as recent extreme weather events like heatwaves and heavy rain, redevelopment, construction, and sewer maintenance-which lead to habitat displacement-are also contributing to the increasing number of rat sightings in urban areas. The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained that during heavy rain, rats that lose their food sources due to flooding in underground facilities move above ground, while during periods of extreme heat, rising underground temperatures often drive them to the surface where ventilation is better. Experts emphasize that because rats can transmit various infectious diseases, maintaining cleanliness at street stalls and strengthening regular inspections by local authorities are essential.

A rat spotted near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station around November 2023. Online community

In response to ongoing complaints and the rising trend of rat sightings, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to introduce a smart pest control system based on artificial intelligence (AI) sensors and data analysis. Song Euncheol, head of the Infectious Disease Management Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "To prevent rats from appearing in areas where citizens live, we will promote a more pleasant and safe urban environment by implementing a smart pest control system and integrated public-private pest management."