"They Stick to Your Mouth and Clothes"... Daegu Sincheon Stream Swarmed by Insects

Sincheon Riverside in Daegu Sees Spike in Insects, Causing Discomfort for Citizens
Increased Pest Control Workforce and Hours Still Fall Short
First-Ever Introduction of Resident Pest Control Teams to Address Blind Spots

An increasing number of citizens in Daegu are expressing complaints as they face swarms of insects along the banks of the Sincheon Stream.

Bug carcasses are stuck on a spider web under Chilseong Bridge in Buk-gu, Daegu. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to Yonhap News on July 3, as the full heat of summer begins, citizens using the riverside park under the Chilseong Bridge in Buk-gu, Daegu, are experiencing discomfort due to insects. In fact, in various places along the Sincheon Stream, insect carcasses tangled in spider webs have been observed. The types of insects include mosquitoes, mayflies, and moths, among others. Mayflies, in particular, were often seen moving in groups.

Citizens, who frequent the riverside park for running or to escape the heat, have voiced significant inconvenience and have called for more proactive disinfection measures from the authorities. However, it is reported that even though each local government has increased the number of disinfection personnel and the frequency of operations, these efforts have proven to be insufficient. As insects are appearing not only in the riverside park but also in places such as sewers, related civil complaints are on the rise, making it difficult to focus disinfection efforts solely on the riverside park.

Disinfection workers sanitizing Dongchon Amusement Park. Photo by Yonhap News.

Last month, Buk-gu hired one additional disinfection worker at each of its 23 administrative welfare centers and is performing fogging disinfection up to four times a month using a 1-ton truck along the Sincheon Stream banks. Disinfection workers from Dong-gu, who are responsible for Dongchon Amusement Park and the Kumho River area, now finish their workdays two hours later than usual from May through September.

This year, Dong-gu also launched the "Neighborhood Community Leader Disinfection Team" for the first time in Daegu, aiming to address gaps in disinfection coverage. From July to October, these teams will travel around neighborhoods, inspecting standing water and removing larvae. In addition, residents will distribute insect repellents and engage in mosquito prevention activities.

A Dong-gu official told Yonhap News, "This is Daegu's first resident-participatory disinfection system utilizing community leaders," adding, "We expect that this will help eliminate blind spots in disinfection by preemptively preventing the occurrence of mosquitoes and other pests in residential areas."

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