On January 24, 2026, African Swine Fever (ASF) was confirmed at a pig farm in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, raising nationwide concerns over livestock disease control. This is the third confirmed ASF case in South Korea this year, following a recent outbreak in Anseong, Gyeonggi. The farm owner reported pig deaths to local authorities, and subsequent tests confirmed ASF. In response, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and local governments convened an emergency meeting to assess the situation and review containment strategies.
The affected farm housed 7,945 pigs. The Central Disaster Management Headquarters (CDMH) immediately dispatched initial response and epidemiological teams to the site, restricting access by outsiders and vehicles. All pigs at the farm were culled to prevent further spread, and a 24-hour standstill order was issued for livestock workers and vehicles in nine adjacent cities and counties. Additionally, 48 disinfection vehicles were mobilized to intensively sanitize 323 nearby farms and roads, while a central rapid response team managed on-site operations. Emergency inspections were also conducted on 56 farms within a 10km radius, 29 epidemiologically linked farms, and four vehicles.
Given the recent ASF outbreaks in Gangneung, Anseong, and Pocheon, the CDMH is strengthening nationwide preventive measures, including comprehensive disinfection, environmental inspections, and enhanced surveillance. Intensive cleaning and certification are being promoted for farm facilities and worker accommodations, with expanded inspections covering all staff, including foreign workers. As ASF has emerged even in areas without wild boar detections, biosecurity in border regions is being reinforced in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense. Penalties for non-compliance, mandatory pre-stocking training, and stricter restocking procedures are also being implemented.
Vice Minister Kim Jong-gu urged local governments and farmers to intensify farm biosecurity and road disinfection, emphasizing immediate reporting of suspicious symptoms. The culling of 7,945 pigs represents less than 0.07% of the nation’s total pig population, so the impact on pork supply is expected to be minimal. The government will finalize and implement enhanced biosecurity measures after consulting experts, including nationwide environmental inspections and bans on illegal livestock imports. Ongoing monitoring will ensure stable pork supply and effective disease management.
This ASF outbreak highlights the critical importance of rapid response and multi-agency coordination in disease containment. The occurrence in regions without recent wild boar cases suggests potential gaps in existing biosecurity protocols, underscoring the need for layered strategies such as environmental management, staff training, and movement controls. Moving forward, leveraging real-time data analytics, AI-driven risk prediction, and robust information sharing between farms and authorities will be essential for effective livestock disease prevention and control.