AI images of 'anti-pest control interview' spread online as S. Korea swarmed with lovebugs
Images of an 'anti-pest control interview' conducted by artificial intelligence have gone viral online as South Korea grapples with a lovebug infestation. The AI-generated images depict a unique approach to pest control, sparking interest and conversation among netizens. With lovebugs swarming the country, authorities are exploring various methods to manage the insect population. The unexpected spread of these AI images has added a new dimension to the ongoing battle against the invasive insects.
After South Korea was hit with a lovebug infestation, two AI images surfaced in posts that falsely claim they depict an animal rights activist protesting pest control measures. The pictures originally appeared in an online parody account, and contain visual errors that indicate they are inauthentic.
False Claims on Social Media
"Disgusting environmental activist roaches, hypocritical pests," reads the Korean-language post shared on Facebook on July 4, 2025. The post also questions why the activists do not speak up about North Korea's reported discharge of uranium waste into rivers that flow into the South. The post features two images of an interview with "Go Gi-yeong", an "animal rights activist". According to the captions in the first image, she says, "At this moment innocent lovebugs are being massacred. We should become a society that coexists and stops these massacres." She appears distressed as lovebugs swarm her in the second image, with the subtitles indicating she was swearing at the insects.
Response from Authorities and Environmental Groups
Environment authorities in South Korea have launched widespread pest control operations across the country after lovebug swarms exploded in late June. The insects, which are nicknamed for their distinctive mating behavior, were first recorded in South Korea during an outbreak in 2022. However, some environmental and animal rights groups, including Greenpeace Korea, criticized the indiscriminate spraying.
Origin of the Fake Images
The same images were shared by multiple right-wing Facebook users, and also surfaced on Threads. Posts sharing the images were accompanied by mocking comments such as "The true nature of leftists" and "Go love those bugs yourself", with many users appearing to believe the images depicted a real interview. But reverse searches on Google found the images were first posted on Instagram on July 2 by Lil Doge, a South Korean parody artist known for creating satirical AI-generated content, mostly related to politics. The original post states: "These are images created by AI based on real-life facts."
Identifying Fabricated Content
A closer inspection of the images also reveals telltale signs of AI generation. The speaker's left hand in the first image has more than five fingers, with her index finger appearing to be duplicated. The microphone held up to her face also features extra, nonsensical cords sprouting from it. Moreover, the background and the number of people visible behind the speaker inexplicably change between the two images. Although generative AI technology is improving rapidly, visual inconsistencies persist and are the best way to identify fabricated content.