The Guro District of Seoul announced on the 11th that it will fully launch a rodent control system using the Internet of Things (IoT) to address the increasing presence of rats (rodents) in urban areas.

According to the district, rat-related civil complaints within its jurisdiction rose from 11 cases in 2021 to 257 in 2025, about a 23-fold increase. This appears to be influenced by abnormal weather due to climate change and by the expansion of rodent activity areas associated with maintenance and redevelopment projects.

Guro District has established a 2025~2026 intensive special rodent control plan and, to enhance control efficiency and a 24-hour constant monitoring system, began operating IoT smart pest control equipment this month.

Forty units of the smart device ‘Viper’ and forty rat traps will be installed at major complaint hotspots such as Sindorim Mirae Sarang Children Park and Techno Neighborhood Park.

These devices use built-in sensors to continuously detect rat appearances and captures around the clock; upon a capture, they sense the weight, automatically close the entrance, and immediately issue an alert to the control room. A specialized service provider then is dispatched to the site to promptly collect the captured animal.

Because these devices capture live without using toxic rodenticides, they can be operated safely in the city without harming children, stray cats, or other animals.

Based on data accumulated during operation of the smart equipment, the district plans to analyze vulnerable time periods and sections for complaints and to adjust control routes accordingly.