Lovebugs taking over South Korea: Here’s why it’s getting worse

If you're in Korea, you might have come across these small black insects that fly around as a pair, which is why they're named lovebugs.

They've been around for the past few years, but their return has been especially unwelcoming this summer with its worst seasonal surge in the numbers of lovebugs.

Park Hyo-been tells us more.

Hiking trails covered with black bugs.

At the top of the mountain trail, bags filled with dead bugs are stacked one after another.

They're called lovebugs, and they've been appearing in massive numbers across South Korea's capital region every summer in recent years.

But many say they've never seen this many before.

"They stick to everything. Even if you try to fan them away, they don't come off easily. There were just so many, I literally couldn't walk around without doing this. This year has been just unbelievable."

"I'm now standing here on Gyeyangsan Mountain, and as you can see, there are lovebugs all over my clothes. Also over here, these are their dead bodies."

There are several theories behind the surge, but experts point to climate change as a key factor.

"Although it's monsoon season, we've had little rain this year, which is a possible sign of climate change. Typhoons have missed Korea and brought heavy rainfall to southwestern China, causing years of flooding there. That may have driven the bugs to migrate naturally into Korea."

Though they cause some discomfort, lovebugs are actually considered beneficial insects, making aggressive extermination efforts difficult to justify.

"Lovebugs actually play a beneficial role in the ecosystem by serving as food for other species and helping decompose organic matter. They don't bite or spread disease, but when they appear in large numbers like this, people tend to see them as pests."

Instead of using chemical pesticides, local governments are turning to eco-friendly control methods

Some municipalities are using LED lights to lure the bugs away from populated areas, while others deploy fire trucks to spray water and kill them.

Authorities are also collecting the insects by hand and using sticky traps to reduce their numbers.

Experts say the bugs tend to swarm most intensely until mid-July, after which their numbers decline.

But they also warn that these seasonal invasions are likely to continue.

"Given recent climate patterns, these outbreaks are very likely to continue. The areas where lovebugs appear may shift, but the phenomenon itself is expected to persist for the time being."

As lovebugs return each year and in greater numbers, balancing ecological value with public discomfort is becoming a growing challenge for local governments and residents alike.

Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.