Officials are pushing for rapid containment to protect the country's vital pork production sector..

South Korean authorities have confirmed a new outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) at a pig farm in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, approximately 170 kilometres east of Seoul. This marks the nation's first reported case in nearly two months, since the previous detection in November 2025.

CBI News reports that the outbreak came to light after 32 pigs died at the facility on January 16, 2026, with subsequent laboratory tests revealing that 29 tested positive for the highly lethal ASF virus. Provincial officials acted immediately to contain the threat.

In a decisive response, authorities culled around 20,000 pigs on the affected farm. A 48-hour standstill order was swiftly imposed on pig farms in six neighbouring cities and counties, halting all pig movements to curb potential spread.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has directed comprehensive emergency measures, including strict site restrictions, extensive disinfection operations, epidemiological investigations to trace the source, and strengthened biosecurity protocols nationwide.

ASF remains a devastating disease for pigs and wild boars, with near-100% fatality rates in infected animals, but it poses no threat to human health and does not affect food safety when pork is thoroughly cooked.

This incident represents the first ASF confirmation in Gangwon Province in about 14 months. South Korea has managed multiple farm outbreaks and thousands of wild boar cases since the virus first appeared in 2019.

CBI News will continue to closely monitor developments as authorities intensify surveillance of nearby farms and wild boar populations amid heightened national alert.