Capital Region and Chungbuk Fine Dust Reduction Measures... 2 Million Won Fine for Violating Businesses (Update)

The city center viewed from the Government Seoul Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 10th is shrouded in fine dust, with the ultrafine dust concentration at the "Bad" level. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Due to the continuous surge of high-concentration fine dust, emergency fine dust reduction measures will be implemented on the 11th in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Chungbuk.

The Ministry of Environment announced on the 10th that from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the 11th, a crisis alert of the 'interest' level will be issued for four cities and provinces including Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Chungbuk, and emergency fine dust reduction measures will be implemented. This is the second emergency reduction measure this year following the one on the 4th.

The affected areas exceeded an average daily concentration of 50㎍/㎥ of ultrafine dust (PM2.5) until 4 p.m. on the 10th, and it is expected to exceed 50㎍/㎥ again tomorrow (the 11th), meeting the issuance criteria.

First, emergency reduction measures will be implemented at workplaces and construction sites operated by private, administrative, and public institutions located in the four cities and provinces.

At large fine dust-emitting workplaces (180 sites) such as petrochemical and refining plants, cement manufacturing plants, measures such as changing operating hours, adjusting operating rates, or improving efficiency will be implemented. Emission reduction measures will also be carried out at public workplaces such as waste incineration plants and sewage treatment plants.

Construction sites must implement dust suppression measures such as changing or adjusting construction hours, operating water spraying trucks, and covering with dustproof covers. Violations at workplaces and construction sites subject to reduction measures will result in fines of up to 2 million KRW.

Additionally, 22 workplaces in the metropolitan area and Chungbuk that have voluntarily agreed with the Ministry of Environment will also implement their own emergency reduction measures.

Furthermore, according to the 'Winter Power Supply and Coal Power Reduction Measures,' a total of 10 coal power plants nationwide will be shut down, and output limits (80% output restriction) will be imposed on a total of 47 coal power plants on the 11th. In particular, in Incheon, where reduction measures have been issued, output limits will be applied to all six coal power plants.

Inspections and crackdowns to suppress fine dust generation will be conducted, and road cleaning will be strengthened.

Each city and province will conduct their own inspections and crackdowns targeting workplaces and construction sites and will expand the operation of street cleaning vehicles. Especially, Seoul plans to deploy seven dust suction cleaning vehicles intensively in fine dust concentration management zones (one each in Yeongdeungpo, Geumcheon, and Dongjak).

The Metropolitan Air Quality Management Office and regional environmental offices will inspect industrial complexes and other areas dense with workplaces.

Yoo Je-cheol, Director of the Ministry of Environment's Living Environment Policy Office, stated, "The government will continue to make all-out efforts to respond to high-concentration fine dust to protect public health."

He added, "We hope that the public, recognizing that we are all both victims and problem solvers of fine dust, will participate by using public transportation, maintaining appropriate indoor temperatures, and referring to public action recommendations to take care of their health."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.