Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
Korea steps up emergency measures to combat lovebug infestation
Officials from the Ministry of Environment carry out pest control operations in response to lovebug outbreaks at Mount Gyeyang in Incheon, Friday. Yonhap
By Lee Hae-rin
Korea is ramping up its response to a severe outbreak of lovebugs, or Plecia nearctica, that has blanketed the Incheon region and caused widespread inconvenience for residents.
The Ministry of Environment announced Friday that it has dispatched 37 emergency personnel to Mount Gyeyang in Incheon, where the infestation is the most severe, to conduct urgent pest control operations.
The ministry’s emergency teams, working alongside Gyeyang District officials, have used air blowers, insect nets and water-spraying equipment to remove adult bugs from affected areas. Large-scale cleanup operations also took place to collect and dispose of dead insects, which have created foul odors.
Authorities have also installed light-based insect traps because of the bugs’ attraction to light. The ministry is also expanding its collaboration with local governments, including Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, for the activation of a 24-hour task force added to the existing joint response system with Seoul and the National Institute of Biological Resources.
Although lovebugs are harmless to humans — they do not bite, sting or transmit diseases and are even considered beneficial for pollution and soil health — their overwhelming numbers have sparked widespread complaints and discomfort among the public in affected areas.
A hiking trail at Mount Gyeyang in Incheon is covered with dead lovebugs from the recent outbreak, Monday. Yonhap
Despite official assurances of their harmlessness, the sheer scale of the infestation, which experts widely agree is closely linked to climate change, has led many to view them as pests.
Residents report that swarms of lovebugs disrupt daily life by sticking to clothing, vehicles and homes, and blanket hiking trails and public spaces to the point of making outdoor activities unpleasant or even impossible in Seoul and surrounding areas.
According to data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, lovebug-related complaints surged from 4,418 in 2022 to 5,600 in 2023, and then more than doubled the 2022 total with 9,296 in 2024. The trend shows no sign of slowing, as 4,695 complaints have already been filed in the first half of this year alone.
Officials warn that the current lovebug outbreak could be a sign of more frequent and severe climate-induced insect population explosions in the future.
In response, the government plans to increase investment in mid- and long-term research and development, including the use of artificial intelligence to predict and control mass insect occurrences and developing ecological and species-specific pest control measures.
Additionally, legal and regulatory reforms are being considered to establish a more systematic approach to managing large-scale insect outbreaks.
Currently, Korea has no legal basis for managing mass outbreaks of insects like lovebugs, making it difficult for local governments to secure funding and develop pest control technologies. To address this, authorities plan to consult with experts, local governments and civic groups to designate such insects as legally managed species and establish a systematic response.
Firefighting officials spray water around trees in Seoul's Nowon District, Thursday, as part of an emergency pest control measure against lovebug outbreaks. Yonhap
“We will closely monitor the situation and respond quickly in cooperation with local governments, providing personnel, equipment and emergency funding as needed,” said Kim Tae-o, director of the ministry’s nature and health bureau.