Endangered Native Korean Honeybee Population Quadruples to 4 Million in LG Conservation Drive
LG Group announced Wednesday a significant milestone in its biodiversity and ecosystem preservation initiatives, successfully quadrupling the population of endangered native Korean honeybees to 4 million within a single year.
This impressive growth for the indigenous “Halla honeybee” began last year with LG establishing a dedicated habitat near Hwadam Botanic Garden in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. Through a specialized breeding project, carried out in collaboration with Korea’s first officially recognized native bee master, Kim Dae-rip, the native bee population surged from 1 million to a stable 4 million colonies.
Native Korean honeybees are critically important pollinators, playing an indispensable role in fertilizing indigenous plants that Western honeybees often cannot. However, these vital pollinators have faced a severe crisis, with their population plummeting by approximately 98 percent since the 2010s, primarily due to devastating sacbrood virus outbreaks and the adverse effects of climate change, pushing the species perilously close to extinction.
Looking ahead, LG Group is committed to doubling the native bee population annually through 2027. This ambitious goal includes plans for expanding existing habitats and increasing the cultivation of nectar-producing plants around crucial breeding sites.
“LG’s bee conservation project was born from an urgent understanding that the disappearance of bees could precipitate a global food crisis,” stated Kim Dae-rip. “Achieving a fourfold increase in the native bee population within just one year is an exceptionally meaningful accomplishment for environmental protection.”
With a stable breeding population of 4 million native bees now secured, LG plans to extend its impact by distributing additional bee colonies to beekeepers severely affected by honeybee population declines. This distribution will be conducted in partnership with the social enterprise BecomFriends, supporting broader recovery efforts.
Furthermore, LG is actively involved in community empowerment, operating a specialized beekeeping training program for individuals with developmental disabilities, also in collaboration with BecomFriends.
Beyond honeybee conservation, LG has significantly expanded its biodiversity-related initiatives through the LG Sangnok Foundation. These efforts encompass vital habitat restoration projects aimed at protecting other endangered species, including storks, spoonbills, and native turtles across various regions.
This impactful native bee conservation initiative by LG Group comes just ahead of World Bee Day on May 20, a global event designated by the United Nations to heighten awareness about the critical importance of pollinators and the urgent need for comprehensive ecosystem preservation worldwide.
