At a beekeeping farm in Haengwon-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, a farmer lifts up an empty beehive. (Yonhap)
JEJU, South Korea, Aug. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — Honeybee populations on Jeju Island are collapsing at alarming rates, with local officials and beekeepers warning that climate change has left colonies increasingly vulnerable to disease and pests.
According to data released Tuesday by Jeju Province and the Korea Beekeeping Association, a 2022 survey of 157 apiaries found honeybee die-offs or disappearances at every farm. Of the 33,965 hives examined, 14,955 had been destroyed — a mortality rate of 44 percent.
Officials attribute the losses to erratic winter cold snaps that force bees to overexert themselves in order to maintain body heat, weakening their immune systems and shortening their lifespans.
The devastation has been compounded by infestations of mites, which parasitize bee pupae, and predatory wasps that attack worker bees at hive entrances.
While precise statistics remain elusive, Jeju authorities estimate that winter die-off rates have hovered in the 40 percent range for several years, far above historical averages.
Bees Are Dying in Jeju, and Farmers Fear for Their Future: With hive losses topping 40 percent, the island’s beekeepers turn to new disease-control programs in hopes of saving an industry. (Yonhap)
In response, the province will host a “Climate Change Response Honeybee Disease Management Seminar” on September 3 in Seogwipo. About 250 participants — including local beekeepers and members of the Korean Beekeeping Association’s Jeju chapter — are expected to attend.
The event will combine lectures on disease prevention, safe use of treatments and hive management with hands-on workshops on controlling mites and other pests.
Officials hope the training will strengthen farms’ biosecurity and build a more resilient foundation for the island’s beekeeping industry, which plays a crucial role in local agriculture and ecosystems.
“Climate change is heightening the risk of honeybee disease outbreaks,” said Kim Hyung-eun, director of Jeju’s Agriculture and Livestock Products Bureau. “We are working on measures to improve farmers’ disease control and hive management capabilities.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
