Starting Next Month 1st, Operation of Grade 5 Vehicles Restricted in Seoul Metropolitan Area...Fine of 100,000 KRW

Holding of Fine Dust Special Committee... Approval of the 2nd Seasonal Management Plan
340,000 Vehicles Registered in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... Vehicles Registered Outside the Metropolitan Area Also Subject to Control
321 Surveillance Cameras in Operation... Encouraging Voluntary Reduction at Workplaces

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The government will implement the "Seasonal Fine Dust Management System" to strengthen responses to high concentrations of fine dust from December through March next year. Starting from the first day of December, 5th-grade vehicles will be restricted from operating in the metropolitan area, and a fine of 100,000 KRW will be imposed upon detection.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun presided over the "4th Special Committee on Fine Dust Countermeasures" at the Government Seoul Office on the 2nd. At this meeting, the "2nd Implementation Plan for the Seasonal Fine Dust Management System" was reviewed and approved to respond to periods of high fine dust concentration.

The seasonal management system runs from December to March of the following year. It is a policy that implements strengthened emission reduction and management measures compared to usual times to mitigate the occurrence of high concentrations of fine dust.

This year, four key areas will be focused on: ▲sector-specific emission reduction measures by the central government ▲establishment and implementation of detailed plans by local governments ▲protection of the public ▲strengthening Korea-China cooperation.

During the seasonal management period, the goal is to reduce direct emissions of ultrafine dust by 6,729 tons (20% compared to 2016), sulfur oxides (SOx) by 41,404 tons (35%), nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 50,520 tons (12%), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 21,054 tons (6%).

According to the reduction targets, emission reduction measures will be strengthened and promoted in the transportation, power generation, industry, and daily life sectors.

First, operation of 5th-grade vehicles without diesel particulate filters (DPF), such as old diesel vehicles, will be restricted in the metropolitan area.

There are a total of 1.46 million 5th-grade vehicles nationwide without low-emission measures, of which 340,000 are registered in the metropolitan area.

5th-grade vehicles without low-emission measures registered outside the metropolitan area will also be subject to enforcement if they enter the metropolitan area. However, if a vehicle is caught in enforcement in two or more cities/provinces in one day, a fine will be imposed only once at the first location of detection.

A total of 321 enforcement cameras (Seoul 136, Incheon 44, Gyeonggi 141) are installed and operating in the metropolitan area.

Incheon and Gyeonggi have exempted vehicles that have applied for low-emission measures in advance from enforcement and fines. Seoul will refund or cancel fines if the measures are completed by November next year, regardless of whether the application for low-emission measures was made.

Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae stated in a briefing, "The Ministry of Environment and local governments will individually notify 5th-grade vehicle owners of operation restrictions in November and conduct joint mock enforcement."

The participation rate in the slow-speed operation program for ships at five major ports including Busan and Incheon will be expanded from 31% last year to 50%. The sulfur content standard for fuel oil used by domestic ships will also be strengthened up to seven times from January next year (B-C fuel standard, 3.5 → 0.5%).

This month, agreements will be signed with more than 160 large workplaces nationwide to encourage voluntary emission reductions and provide incentives such as easing inspection cycles.

In rural areas, each city and province will establish collection and disposal plans to reduce illegal burning of agricultural waste and residues.

The government will coordinate with 17 local governments to establish detailed seasonal fine dust management plans by city and province by the end of this month. While sharing implementation status, awards and promotions will be conducted for outstanding local governments.

By the end of this month, 70,000 facilities used by sensitive and vulnerable groups such as daycare centers, kindergartens, schools, and elderly care facilities will conduct comprehensive self-inspections on ▲implementation of fine dust response manuals ▲installation and management status of air purifiers.

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Honam Moon munonam@

Korea-China cooperation will also be strengthened during the seasonal management period. Under the cooperative framework called the "Korea-China Blue Sky Plan" signed last November, policy exchanges such as Korea-China Environment Ministers' meetings will continue.

Policy and forecast officials from both countries will share progress on measures during high concentration periods and hold regular meetings at least twice to strengthen mutual cooperation in reduction industries and air quality forecasting.

Minister Cho said, "If the seasonal management implementation plan is carried out without fail, the number of bad ultrafine dust days nationwide is expected to improve by 3 to 6 days and the average concentration by 1.3 to 1.7 μg/m³ compared to the past three years."

Meanwhile, from January to September this year, Korea's average fine dust concentration was 18 μg/m³, a 25% decrease compared to the same period over the past three years.

The causes are analyzed to be a combination of ▲government countermeasure effects ▲improvements in China's fine dust concentration ▲reduced economic and social activities due to COVID-19 ▲and meteorological influences.

Minister Cho emphasized, "High concentration fine dust can recur at any time depending on changes in external factors," adding, "Considering that exposure to ultrafine dust weakens resistance to COVID-19, awareness of fine dust must be heightened once again."

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