As South Korea experiences an unusually early and intense summer heat, the country is seeing a sharp rise in food poisoning incidents. Compared to last year, the number of reported cases in May nearly tripled, raising concerns among health officials.
Many outbreaks happened at restaurants, schools, and workplace cafeterias. In one recent case, over 130 people fell ill after eating at a gimbap restaurant in Seoul. The restaurant has since closed, and an investigation into the source of contamination is ongoing. In Gwangju, 43 elementary school students and staff showed symptoms after eating lunch, with some requiring hospitalization. In Ulsan and Yangsan, 290 workers got sick from catered food.
Experts warn that the early arrival of extreme heat may be fueling the surge. “High temperatures speed up bacterial growth and toxin production,” said Dr. Choi Jun-yong, an infectious disease specialist.
Health officials are urging everyone to take precautions: wash hands often, cook food well, boil drinking water, and avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen. The government has also conducted inspections of restaurants serving high-risk foods, such as samgyetang, cold noodles, and egg-based dishes between July 14 and 18.