Bedbugs have caused a public phobia in South Korea, where a recent outbreak has seen 33 reported cases of infestation. Local news broadcasts have shown footage of the small insects, sparking fear and causing people to take precautions such as avoiding sitting on subway seats and visiting public facilities. Seoul City officials have stated that while bedbugs do not transmit disease, their bites can lead to skin rashes, severe itchiness, and allergic symptoms. The bugs were nearly eliminated in the country in the 1960s and 1970s thanks to the use of powerful pesticides, but they have made a comeback in recent years. The government has launched a task force to collect information and control the pest, and plans to conduct sweeping inspections and disinfection operations in various facilities. Business operators tend to under-report infestations for fear of affecting their business, leading to quiet contact with private pest-control services that reportedly charge high fees for disinfection. This issue is not unique to South Korea, as Paris is also facing a bedbug challenge ahead of next year’s Summer Olympics, with videos of the insects crawling on the seats of the Paris Metro going viral.