Venomous Spiders in South Korea

South Korea hosts several medically significant spiders:

• Korean Wolf Spider (Lycosa coreana): Widespread; large fangs; painful bite causing swelling, tissue damage.
• Yellow Sac Spider (Cheiracanthium inclusum): Common indoors; hides in clothing/bedding; bite causes pain, itching, swelling, potential infection.
• Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa): Rare, mostly in ports/imported goods; necrotic venom can cause severe ulcers.
• Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans): In rural areas; neurotoxic venom causes severe pain, cramps, nausea; rarely fatal with treatment.
• Chinese Spider Wasp (Prionyx compressus): Not a spider; parasitic wasp with excruciating sting.

Bites are rare; spiders bite only when threatened. Shake out clothing/shoes, wear gloves gardening, seek medical care if bitten.