Gyeongnam Province Implements Seasonal Management System, Improves Fine Dust Concentration

Average PM2.5 Concentration 18.5㎍/㎥, 9% (1.8㎍/㎥) Decrease Compared to Last 3 Years

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] As a result of implementing the fine dust seasonal management system in the Gyeongnam region from December last year to March this year, it was found that the concentration of ultrafine dust (PM-2.5) improved.

Gyeongsangnam-do announced on the 14th that during the seasonal management period, the average concentration of ultrafine dust was 18.5㎍/㎥, which is a 9% decrease compared to the same period in the past three years (20.3㎍/㎥ → 18.5㎍/㎥), and the number of days with "good" fine dust increased from 45 to 50 days. The number of "bad" days decreased from 9 to 3 days.

The improvement in ultrafine dust conditions is judged to be the result of a combination of factors including the emission reduction effect from implementing the seasonal management system, weather conditions, and COVID-19.

In particular, despite the ultrafine dust concentration worsening by 4㎍/㎥ (27%) in March this year compared to March last year due to a yellow dust warning issued for the first time in 11 years, the overall average fine dust concentration improved.

During the seasonal management period, when high concentrations of fine dust frequently occur, the province promoted strengthened, daily life-oriented fine dust reduction measures in various sectors such as power generation, industry, transportation, and daily life.

In the power generation sector, among the total 14 power generators in the province, 4 units at Samcheonpo and Hadong power plants were shut down. The remaining 10 units operated at about 80% capacity, reducing ultrafine dust by 14% compared to the same period last year.

In the industrial sector, voluntary reduction agreements were expanded with 42 large-scale business sites that emit large amounts of fine dust, resulting in a 25% reduction in emissions compared to last year.

Focused inspections were conducted on 3,277 sites including air pollutant emission businesses and dust-generating construction sites, resulting in 179 administrative actions such as improvement orders and fines.

Additionally, a private monitoring group for illegal fine dust emissions was utilized to strengthen surveillance of illegal activities inside and outside industrial complexes and to promote and enforce prevention of illegal burning.

In the transportation sector, restrictions on the operation of grade 5 emission vehicles were introduced.

On the day the first emergency reduction measure was implemented this year, 2,810 vehicles were caught in four areas: Changwon, Jinju, Gimhae, and Yangsan.

Violations incur a fine of 100,000 KRW once per day, but this year is a grace period for system establishment, and fines will be imposed starting next year.

To protect residents' health, outdoor air purifiers and simple measuring devices are being installed, and a pilot urban clean system is being operated.

Thirty-three urban points in cities and counties, covering 176 km, were designated as focused management roads and cleaned more than twice daily, totaling 8,228 km of cleaned sections.

Jung Byunghee, head of the Climate and Air Quality Division of Gyeongsangnam-do, said, "Despite difficult conditions such as the yellow dust warning in March this year for the first time in 11 years, we were able to achieve results such as the improvement of ultrafine dust concentration through residents' eco-friendly lifestyle practices and emission reduction efforts. We will continue to do our best to create a blue sky Gyeongnam without fine dust worries."

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