Due to Two Consecutive Days of High Fine Dust Levels in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... Government Strengthens Implementation Status Checks

Minister of Environment Han Jeong-ae is conducting a joint inspection meeting on disaster response to high-concentration fine dust with local governments and related ministries at the Hangang Flood Control Office on the morning of the 12th.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] Due to the implementation of high-concentration fine dust emergency reduction measures in the metropolitan area (Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi) for two consecutive days on the 11th and 12th, the government is strengthening inspections on the compliance status of reduction measures at each site.

According to the Korea Environment Corporation, as of 9 a.m. on the 12th, the concentration of ultrafine dust in Seoul is 73㎍/㎥, classified as 'Bad'; Gyeonggi is 97㎍/㎥, classified as 'Very Bad'; and Incheon is 81㎍/㎥, also classified as 'Very Bad'.

An official from the Ministry of Environment stated, "This high-concentration situation continues as the previous day's ultrafine dust (PM2.5) remains due to atmospheric stagnation," adding, "Therefore, reduction measures such as restricting the operation of grade 5 vehicles and imposing output limits on coal power plants will be implemented as on the 11th."

Specifically, among coal power plants, 21 units will be shut down, and 32 units will have their output limited to 80%. Enforcement of operation restrictions on grade 5 vehicles, including those applying for low-emission measures, will be conducted, and the operation frequency of street cleaning vehicles will be increased from 1-2 times per day to 2-3 times or more.

The Ministry of Environment is conducting on-site visits led by the minister and heads of agencies to inspect the implementation status following the emergency reduction measure orders. The purpose is to check compliance with mandatory measures and encourage participation.

On this day, Minister Han Jeong-ae of the Ministry of Environment held a joint inspection meeting with local governments following the previous day and visited the Asia Paper mill located in the Sihwa Industrial Complex to check the implementation status of emergency reduction measures. The previous day, she visited the Seoul city grade 5 vehicle operation restriction situation room and the street cleaning vehicle operation site in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Minister Han said, "High concentrations of fine dust continue due to atmospheric stagnation, so the public's special attention and participation in efforts to reduce fine dust, such as reporting illegal burning, are necessary," adding, "The government and local governments will do their best to ensure that emergency reduction measures and the March full-scale response plan are implemented smoothly on the ground."

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