South Korea steps up quarantine checks on overseas fruit, sausages during summer holiday season

South Korea is launching a special quarantine campaign targeting fruits, sausages and other agricultural and livestock products brought in from abroad during the summer holiday season. Authorities will deploy AI-powered X-ray systems alongside additional quarantine personnel and detection dogs to block the entry of foreign pests and livestock diseases.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency said Thursday it will conduct special quarantine inspections at airport and seaport arrival halls from Monday through Aug. 7, focusing on agricultural and livestock items carried by incoming international travelers.

The summer holiday period sees a spike in illegal imports of fresh fruit, sausages and other overseas agricultural and livestock products. Foreign pests or viruses entering the country alongside such items can cause serious damage to farms.

During last year's summer holiday season, authorities seized and destroyed a total of 45,820 prohibited items — including 23,801 agricultural products (34 metric tons) and 12,019 livestock products (12 metric tons).

The agency plans to concentrate quarantine staff and detection dogs on routes from China, Vietnam, Thailand and Mongolia, which recorded the highest number of violations last year, to strengthen baggage screening.

An AI X-ray automatic reading system will also be deployed to handle the increased volume of items to inspect. The system uses AI to automatically identify the shape of fruit inside luggage, improving detection accuracy and inspection speed. The agency plans to expand the system's detection capabilities to cover livestock products as well.

In addition, the agency will strengthen coordination with related bodies including the Korea Customs Service and the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, and will expand public awareness efforts through multicultural centers and YouTube.

"We will use advanced quarantine technology, including AI X-ray systems, to block the entry of foreign pests and livestock diseases during the summer holiday season," agency chief Choe Jeong-rok said. "Anyone caught illegally bringing in overseas agricultural or livestock products can face a fine of up to 10 million won ($6,780), so please exercise particular caution."