1,163 Bee Sting Cases Reported in Gyeongbuk Last Year; Public Urged Not to Remove Beehives Themselves

The Gyeongbuk Fire Department stated on July 16, "Dispatches for beehive removal during the summer season have been increasing every year," and urged residents to exercise special caution to prevent bee sting incidents during the peak heat from July to September.

According to the Gyeongbuk Fire Department, the number of beehive removal dispatches in the province over the past three years was 18,056 cases in 2022, 21,401 cases in 2023, and 29,688 cases in 2024, showing a significant increase each year.

Firefighters in Gyeongbuk are removing a beehive from under the eaves of a house.

In particular, about 85% of all activities are concentrated during the hot season from July to September, with hundreds of reports received daily, greatly increasing the workload for rescue personnel.

In a mountain area in Cheongdo-eup, Cheongdo-gun, a man was stung by bees while cutting grass and was rescued by a fire helicopter. There was also a case in Munmudaewang-myeon, Gyeongju, where a person was transported to the hospital after being stung by bees during grass cutting.

Additionally, in Yecheon-gun, a man in his 50s died after being stung by bees during grass cutting for Chuseok. Such accidents continue to occur during outdoor activities before and after the grass-cutting season, so extra caution is necessary.

This year as well, from January to June, there have already been 2,760 beehive removal dispatches, and even more dispatches and reports are expected from July to September as the heat intensifies.

Along with the increase in beehive removal dispatches, bee sting incidents have also continued. In the Gyeongbuk region, there were 1,229 bee sting patients in 2022, 1,109 in 2023, and 1,163 in 2024, with over 1,000 cases occurring annually. Among these, a significant number required emergency treatment due to severe allergic reactions.

Bee stings can cause not only severe pain but also life-threatening allergic reactions or shock, making prevention especially important.

In particular, during outdoor activities or work, people should avoid touching or disturbing beehives, cover exposed skin as much as possible to avoid becoming a target for bees, refrain from using strongly scented products such as perfumes or cosmetics, and strictly follow preventive measures such as not making sudden movements or waving hands if bees approach.

Park Seongyeol, head of the Gyeongbuk Fire Department, said, "Even if you discover a beehive, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Please be sure to call 119 and seek help from professionals," and added, "Since a small lapse in caution can lead to a major accident, I ask everyone to learn and practice bee sting prevention measures during outdoor activities."