SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — Scores of so-called ‘mosquito guards’ will be deployed in Seoul’s Seocho District as part of the district office’s pest control program.

According to the Seocho District Office, the new mosquito guard initiative kicked off on Thursday, with teams of five to ten pest control officers dedicated to each neighborhood in the community to help thoroughly get rid of the hated pests in areas inaccessible to pest control vehicles.

Consisting of employees who are mainly in their 50s and 60s, a number of teams of special mosquito control officers equipped with pesticide backpack sprayers will be deployed in alleyways and small parks while focusing on drains, puddles, plants and piles of garbage in residential areas to combat the blood sucking and disease spreading insects.

Last month, the mosquito guards followed a special training program from the Seocho District Office, where members were taught by professional pest control officers about locating and preventing mosquito larvae growth and how to use pesticide sprays.

Amid global warming, the number of civil complaints filed regarding mosquito control has grown since 2014, from 584 cases to 1,039 last year.

Following the complaints, the Seocho District Office has taken a number of anti-mosquito steps, spraying pesticides around septic tanks and releasing around 15,000 roaches into the Yangjaecheon stream that are fond of mosquito larvae.

Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)