![The Seoul Metropolitan Government is sharply stepping up enforcement this month in zones where feeding feral pigeons is banned. Violators face fines of 200,000 won (about $145) for a first offense, 500,000 won for a second, and up to 1 million won for three or more violations. Pictured is a sign prohibiting pigeon feeding at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on Monday morning. [Herald Business = Yoon Chang-bin]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/08/news-p.v1.20260608.00f97a96d38d4bf7aedd5b829ab3162a_P1.jpg)
A video showing pigeons pecking at food on a street vendor's cart has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread alarm over street food hygiene.
The footage, posted recently on the social media platform Threads and shared across multiple online communities, captured the unsanitary conditions at a street food stall.
In the video, two pigeons are seen perched on a display rack loaded with corn dogs, toast, chicken skewers, fish cakes and other street snacks.
Most of the food was left uncovered and fully exposed. One pigeon stood directly on top of the items and freely pecked at hot bar snacks and other food on the rack.
The person who posted the video said they immediately shooed the pigeons away after filming. "I waited for the owner to return and told them what happened," the user wrote. "The owner was upset and threw out all of the affected food."
Reactions online ranged from dismay to dark humor. "It's basically a pigeon buffet," one commenter wrote. Others said the incident was likely far from isolated: "We just don't usually see it happening." Several said the video had put them off street food entirely, with comments including "This is why I stick to hypermarkets and convenience stores," "I can't eat street food anymore," "They should have at least put covers on the food," and "I'll be looking a lot more carefully before buying street food from now on."
Fines of up to 1 million won for feeding pigeons
Meanwhile, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is sharply stepping up enforcement this month in designated zones where feeding feral pigeons is banned. The city plans to conduct intensive patrols throughout June, followed by regular spot checks. Violators face fines of 200,000 won for a first offense, 500,000 won for a second, and up to 1 million won for three or more violations.
Feral pigeons are originally cliff- and mountain-dwelling birds that have adapted to urban environments by exploiting human food sources, gradually expanding their habitat into city centers. As people have fed them more, pigeon populations in Seoul have grown, worsening problems with droppings and general sanitation.
In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government last April designated 38 locations as pigeon-feeding prohibition zones, including major parks and plazas such as Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square and Seoul Forest, as well as 11 districts along Han River parks.
choigo@heraldcorp.com
