Residents of a Seoul apartment complex are grappling with an unusual problem: raccoons. Since May, a group of four to five wild raccoons has been roaming the grounds, overturning food waste bins, splashing in fountains, and, in one case, injuring a resident.
The situation escalated when traps were installed, prompting animal rights groups to flood the management office with calls demanding the raccoons’ release. Some residents even freed captured animals, sparking tension within the community.
The problem isn’t an isolated one. Once largely spotted near streams such as the Yangjaecheon and Tancheon, raccoons have now been reported in 24 of Seoul’s 25 districts. Sightings are also climbing in Incheon and Gwangju, where nine kits were recently discovered inside an apartment complex.
According to the National Fire Agency, raccoon captures nearly doubled from 732 in 2023 to 1,445 last year, with more than 600 already logged in the first half of 2025.
Experts say shrinking habitats and easy access to food sources draw raccoons into cities. Though cute in appearance, they can carry rabies, mites, and tick-borne illnesses. Officials are responding with rabies vaccine bait drops. They urge residents to keep a safe distance and avoid direct contact.