Yes, beekeeping is legal in South Korea, but subject to strict agricultural and environmental oversight. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) regulates hive registration, while local governments enforce zoning and disease control measures. Recent 2026 amendments under the Beekeeping Industry Promotion Act tighten biosecurity protocols, requiring mandatory hive inspections and pesticide-use reporting for commercial apiaries.
Key Regulations for Keeping Bees in South Korea
- Hive Registration: All beekeepers must register apiaries with MAFRA’s National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS) under the Livestock and Beekeeping Act. Failure to register risks fines up to ₩3 million (≈$2,300) for unlicensed operations.
- Disease Control: The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) enforces mandatory inspections for Varroa destructor and Paenibacillus larvae (foulbrood). Infected hives must be quarantined or destroyed, with compensation available only for registered apiaries.
- Pesticide Restrictions: Use of neonicotinoids within 3 km of apiaries is prohibited under the Pesticide Control Act. Commercial beekeepers must submit annual pesticide-use logs to local agricultural offices to avoid penalties.
Urban beekeeping faces additional constraints: Seoul’s Urban Planning Ordinance limits hive density to one per 100m² in residential zones, while Busan requires prior approval from the Environmental Health Division. Non-compliance may trigger municipal abatement orders.