With the love bug, a type of fly with a red back, covering places like Gyeong Mountain in Incheon, residents are experiencing discomfort. It has been reported that Yoon Hwan, the head of the Incheon Gyeyang District Office, noted, "I think the public should learn to be a bit patient."
According to a report by Kyunggi Ilbo on the 3rd, District Head Yoon said during a meeting celebrating his third anniversary in office the day before, "I don't know if it's because the environment is very suitable for it, but the love bugs are gathering in Gyeong Mountain."
Yoon said, "Since this is a situation that suddenly occurred this year, there were limitations in our response," and revealed, "Having received a lot of civil complaints, I couldn't sleep at all even hearing just the letter 'R' from love bug."
He continued, "Since the love bug is a beneficial insect and helps improve soil quality, we weren't able to respond strongly. If we had carried out extermination work to eradicate them, environmental groups would have protested immensely."
Recently, videos showing stairs leading to the top of Gyeong Mountain covered in love bug carcasses went viral on social media (SNS), causing controversy. The rope handles installed on the hiking trails, as well as the wooden fences and summit markers, were thoroughly covered in love bugs.
Internet users are criticizing the comments made by District Head Yoon. In online communities, there are reactions such as, "There's a horrible smell because of the love bugs and small business owners are struggling to make sales, yet the district head makes such reckless comments," and, "It's not just anyone saying this, it's the head of the Gyeyang District Office."