South Korea Battles “Love Bug” Hysteria as Ecosystem Concerns Mount
Despite being harmless to humans and offering ecological benefits, a wave of public anxiety and political pressure is driving increasingly drastic measures to control “love bugs” – small, red-backed flies – in South Korea. The situation reached a fever pitch in July 2025, with the installation of sticky traps, legislative proposals for aggressive control measures, and a surge of sensationalized media coverage.
A Harmless Insect Fuels Public Outrage
The recent surge in concern centers around the love bug (Plecia nearctica), which emerges annually for a brief mating season, typically lasting just four to six days. These insects, present in the metropolitan area of Korea since 2022, do not bite or transmit diseases. In fact, they play a vital role in the ecosystem, dissolving organic matter, aiding in pollination, and contributing to overall environmental health. However, their sheer numbers and tendency to swarm on roadways have sparked widespread public frustration.
“I don’t want to see. Love Bug, I’m going to die,” a citizen reportedly exclaimed, reflecting the intensity of the aversion felt by some. This sentiment has been amplified by social media and certain media outlets.
Political Response and Controversial Legislation
Responding to public outcry, the Seoul Metropolitan Government enacted the “Love Bug Control Ordinance” in March 2025, providing a legal basis for eliminating the insects, despite their classification as beneficial organisms rather than pests. This decision drew sharp criticism from civil society and environmental groups, with over 380 citizens lodging protests during the legislative notice period in August 2024.
Lawmakers have further escalated the issue. On July 4, 2025, Kim Jae-seop of the People’s Power party proposed the “Love Bug Control Act,” advocating for control measures based on “visual discomfort and urban aesthetic damage.” He has also actively promoted the issue on social media, posting images with slogans like “Running Love Bug” and “Let’s Hit Love Bug.” A politician in Dobong-gu was even reportedly touted as a potential presidential candidate based on their commitment to controlling the insects, according to Channel A’s “Political Signal” on July 1.
Media Sensationalism and Misinformation
The situation has been exacerbated by sensationalized coverage from some YouTubers and media outlets. Dozens of YouTubers filming in Gyeyangsan, Incheon – where the first love bugs were observed in 2025 – have used alarmist language like “Love Bug Hell” and “Disaster level,” even spraying insecticides directly onto trails. These videos have garnered hundreds of thousands of views, often accompanied by hostile comments directed towards environmental groups.
False information, such as claims that love bugs are acidic and can damage car paint, has also circulated online. However, Seoul National University Life Sciences Professor Shin Seung-gwan debunked this myth, explaining that “when most creatures die and rot, they become acidic, and love bugs are not particularly acidic.” Professor Shin, whose genome analysis of love bug chromosomes was published in Genome Biology and Evolution in October 2024, warned that indiscriminate insecticide use would only strengthen ecosystem imbalances.
Ecological Concerns and Alternative Approaches
Environmental groups are raising serious concerns about the potential ecological consequences of widespread insecticide use and habitat disruption. Nayoung Eun-Pyeong Dandelet, a representative of the Dandelion Party, pointed out that the focus on eradication overlooks the possibility that urbanization and development may be contributing factors to the love bug population boom.
Monitoring conducted by the Bongsan Ecological Survey Team on July 6, 2025, revealed that areas like Gyeyangsan, similar to Bongsan in Eunpyeong-gu, have undergone extensive logging and the creation of artificial forests, alongside widespread insecticide application. Choi Young-young, head of the Seoul Environmental Union Ecological City Team, noted that complaints have significantly decreased in areas where a more balanced approach has been taken. In Eunpyeong-gu, complaints fell from 3558 in 2022 to 982 in 2024, while complaints in Seoul overall increased from 4418 to 9296 during the same period.
Lessons from Florida
Interestingly, Florida, which has experienced annual love bug infestations since the 1940s, has adopted a more pragmatic approach. As Professor Norman Repa of Florida emphasizes in his 2007 paper Living with Lovebugs, the insects appear for a short period each year, and the best course of action is often simply to avoid them. A June 1, 2025, article in Florida Media Now echoed this sentiment, advising residents to accept the insects as a natural part of the environment.
A Complex Problem Demands Nuance
The situation in South Korea highlights the dangers of reacting to public discomfort with hasty and potentially damaging solutions. As Seong Min-gyu, a researcher at the Life Diversity Foundation, stated, the current discourse is “rash, inflammatory and interfering with mature social conversations.” The focus on eradication distracts from the underlying ecological issues and risks further weakening an already fragile ecosystem. The installation of sticky roll traps on July 6, 2025, at Gyeyangsan Trail, which were found to be capturing a variety of insects and even bird feathers, serves as a stark reminder of the unintended consequences of indiscriminate control measures.
