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The government has warned of the risk of wasp stings and snake bites as many people are expected to visit their ancestral graves as part of a tradition known as "seongmyo" before and during the Chuseok holiday, scheduled to begin this Saturday.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on Wednesday, more than 71 percent of all wasp- and bee-sting cases reported over the past five years occurred between July and September.

According to KDCA data, of the more than 4,500 incidents between 2019 and 2023, 111 were serious, with 15 resulting in fatalities.

During the same period, 808 snakebite cases were reported, with 62 percent of those affected requiring hospitalization.

The health agency said the risk is higher for people planning for seongmyo, for which family members remove the weeds that have grown around their ancestors' graves.

The KDCA also advised the public to take precautions when using lawnmowers for the work. During the five-year period, nearly 1,300 people were reported to have been injured while mowing.

Most of them (66 percent) said their heads and faces were hurt by stones, pieces from the machine itself or other objects.

To minimize the risk of being stung by wasps or bees, the KDCA recommended not wearing any perfumes or other scented cosmetic products when visiting grassy areas. If attacked, the person should remove the stringer by using a credit card or other ways and place an ice pack on the wound, the agency added.

The best way to avoid snakebites is to leave the animal alone, as snakes are generally shy and tend not to attack unless provoked. If bitten by a venomous snake, which is often indicated by two distinct puncture marks among other signs, the person should immediately seek emergency help and move as little as possible, because moving causes the venom to circulate through the body, the KDCA said.

"Wasp stings, snakebites and injuries from mowing occur frequently in September during the Chuseok holiday. But the risk remains higher (than other months of the year) until mid-October. So everyone should take precautions to prevent such incidents when doing outdoor activities until then," KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee said in a statement.