South Korea is facing a quirky cultural challenge this summer: lovebugs (연애벌레 yeonae beol-le) have invaded hiking trails and city streets around Seoul and Incheon. These harmless insects swarm in mating pairs, blanketing paths and even spilling into cafés and public transit.

Though they don’t bite, their sheer numbers from Gyeyangsan mountain to downtown Seoul have locals reaching for sticky traps and high-pressure water sprays instead of pesticides. Scientists attribute the surge to 기후변화 (gih­u byeonhwa, climate change) and warmer urban conditions. While a nuisance, lovebugs aid in pollination and decomposition, and authorities emphasize ecological caution.

Vocabulary:

-연애 romance, dating (yeon-ae)

-벌레 bug, insect (beol-le)

So it literally means “romance bug”

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