Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
Hotels brace for bedbug infestations
Officials of the Daegu Metropolitan Government and the Jung District Office's sanitary policy division inspect a hotel room in Daegu, Monday. Yonhap
By Lee Hae-rin
Hotels and resorts across the country are rolling up their sleeves to control and prevent the spread of bedbugs amid growing reports of infestations in Korea, Tuesday.
Paradise City, an integrated resort near Incheon international Airport, and Paradise Hotel Busan said they are taking enhanced disinfection measures across their facilities to control infestations and take preventative measures.
The hotel and resort introduced high-temperature and high-pressure steam sterilizer in every floor to prevent bedbug and other pest infestations. Also, they launched a special task force for disinfection while conducting intensive, regular hygiene inspections with pest control firm, CESCO.
“Based on comprehensive pest control manuals, the company is doing its utmost to make sure our guests can enjoy their time in our accommodation without fear,” said Chun Young-eun, the team manger of Paradise City's Communication Department.
Paradise City, left, and Paradise Hotel Busan / Courtesy of Paradise City
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul is also taking enhanced disinfection measures.
The hotel conducts daily self-inspections of all guest rooms and public areas, supplemented by weekly CESCO inspections, while providing pest control training session in collaboration with CESCO for staff to promptly identify and report any signs of bedbugs.
“Our vacuum cleaners are equipped with HEPA filters, capable of capturing pests, as we diligently inspect for signs like excrement and blood spots. Additionally, we regularly flip and inspect mattresses, and we've intensified the cleaning of items like sofa covers and cushions in public areas, doubling the frequency of high-temperature steam washing,” a hotel official said.
To prevent and minimize the risk of bedbug infestation, the hotel is training staff to promptly identify and report any signs of bed bugs in collaboration with CESCO. Also, the employees conduct thorough inspections of furniture, fill all cracks in walls and floors, and check paper backing on framed pictures, where bedbugs can be found.
Korean luxury resort developer and operator Ananti also sanitizes bedding with high-temperature steam washing in all of its seven properties across the country.
The company said it plans to employ enhanced disinfection measures at Ananti at Gangnam.
Jeju Shinhwa World in the southern resort island Jeju is also taking enhanced disinfection measures, preventative monitoring and pest control training for staff.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to mark bedbug-free accommodations on a local navigation application Tmap Mobility later this month to convene domestic and foreign travelers visiting the capital, the city government said, Tuesday.