00:01For decades, 65-year-old beekeeper Park Jong-je has been following flowers across South Korea.
00:08As a migratory beekeeper, he moves his hives to different regions to chase seasonal flower
00:14blooms and produce honey. But in recent years, his job has become increasingly challenging
00:20as climate change throws seasonal patterns off balance.
00:26Now, because of climate change, it is very hard for beekeepers to survive. In the past,
00:32there were big climate differences between southern and central regions,
00:34so it was very good for producing honey. But now, because of global warming,
00:39flowers seem to bloom all at once nationwide. Rising temperatures are altering seasonal cycles,
00:44causing flowers to bloom earlier and for shorter periods. At the same time, unpredictable weather,
00:51strong winds and increasing mite infestation are putting additional pressure on bee populations.
01:01The honeycomb should be completely full, but lately it's been cold and the strong winds just keep
01:06blowing. In the meantime, the flowers were battered by the wind and withered, so much less honey was
01:11made. Compared to previous years, there isn't much honey. Our harvest is down by about 50 percent.
01:16According to government data, the number of hives from migratory beekeeping has dropped 14 percent in
01:23the past decade. This is not just an economic threat to beekeepers. The decreasing bee population
01:29also impacts the ecosystem. People often think bees just make honey. But we're facing a serious problem,
01:38not only in South Korea, but all around the world. Without bees, nothing works. Bees need to do the
01:43pollination for healthy flowers to bloom and for plants to bear good fruit.
01:47In Sam, a drop in bee populations would have dire consequences.
01:55The destruction of bee populations, which is at the most fundamental substructure of the ecosystem,
02:00is in many ways one of the greatest threats to humanity. We may not feel it right now,
02:05but it could well be the most serious problem of all.
02:08To tackle the declining bee population and the troubles beekeepers face,
02:13the government is working to breed honeybees that can cope with climate change and implement
02:18smart beekeeping technologies. As South Korea looks for ways to address the crisis,
02:24beekeepers like Mr. Park continue their work, hoping future seasons will bring healthier colonies
02:30and a better outlook for the industry. Patrick Chen and Zanyi Chi for Toon Plus.
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