Termite alert in Hanok Village in Seoul
By Jung Min-ho
Namsangol Hanok Village in central Seoul, a popular tourist venue, is on high alert after some insects believed to be termites were found at a wooden building there.
Termites, dubbed the “destroyers of wooden buildings,” feed on dead materials such as wood and can cause serious structural damage to buildings
The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) said Monday officials conducted immediate pest control procedures on April 30 after they saw what appeared to be termites on one of the wooden buildings in the village.
They failed to capture the insects they saw. They are trying to find them to determine whether there are more termites.
“This is the first suspected termite case at the site,” an SMG official said. “We checked five buildings, but could not find any trace of the insects.”
Owing to their wood-eating habits, termites can do great damage to wooden structures. Once termites have entered a building, they do not limit themselves to wood; they can also damage paper, cloth, carpets and other cellulosic materials.
The Namsangol Hanok Village is a famous tourist destination that offers opportunities to experience a wide cross-section of Joseon-era activities.