South Korea has reported 52 measles cases so far in 2025—the highest tally in six years—as once-eradicated infectious diseases begin resurfacing worldwide.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) stated that the current number has already surpassed the 49 cases recorded in 2024, marking the most significant spike since 2019, when 194 cases were confirmed.
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Although South Korea was certified measles-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014, recent increases are being linked to factors like rising international travel and an aging demographic.
Out of the 52 reported cases, 34 were brought in from abroad—mostly from countries such as Vietnam—while the remaining 18 were the result of local transmission, primarily through contact with international travelers in homes or medical centers.
Despite this uptick, health officials stress that the likelihood of a major outbreak is low, citing the country’s high vaccination coverage and strong disease surveillance systems.
The KDCA also reported a rise in illnesses more commonly found in underdeveloped nations, including tuberculosis and scabies.
This resurgence follows a sharp decline in measles cases during the COVID-19 pandemic, with only six cases in 2020 and none in the two years that followed. In 2023, eight cases were logged.
Authorities are maintaining heightened vigilance and continue to urge the public to stay up to date on vaccinations to safeguard community immunity.
