South Korea is alarmed by an outbreak of African swine fever at a farm in Gangneung city, in the eastern region of the country. Authorities have intensified control measures and ordered a 48-hour halt on pig movements to prevent the virus from spreading.
On 17 Jan 2026 GMT+7, South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced the first African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in nearly two months, prompting urgent culling of tens of thousands of pigs and suspension of operations at several pig farms to contain the virus.
The latest outbreak was detected at a pig farm in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, about 170 kilometers from Seoul. Authorities reported that 29 of 32 pigs that died on Friday tested positive for ASF, a deadly pig disease that does not harm humans. This marks the first ASF detection in South Korea since November, following previous outbreaks in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam Province.
Gangwon authorities revealed that to control the situation, about 20,000 pigs on the affected farm are being culled. A "movement ban" for 48 hours has also been imposed on pig farms in six nearby cities and districts, prohibiting transport of animals and related equipment.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has ordered immediate emergency control measures, including restricting access to affected areas, culling pigs, and conducting thorough epidemiological investigations to identify the outbreak’s cause and prevent the virus from spreading to other regions.