Emission Restrictions on Grade 5 Vehicles Until March Next Year... 100,000 KRW Fine for Violations

Seoul City Launches Fine Dust Reduction Measures
Four Key Areas: Transportation, Heating, Workplaces, Exposure Reduction
Inspection Using Big Data and Internet of Things

From this month until March next year, 5th-grade emission vehicles that have not undergone low-emission measures are prohibited from operating on weekdays throughout Seoul. If caught operating, a fine of 100,000 KRW per day will be imposed.

On the 2nd, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will implement the "Seasonal Fine Dust Management System," which centers on this measure, in preparation for the winter season when high concentrations of fine dust frequently occur.

On the 17th, yellow dust originating from China was carried by the northwest wind into South Korea, causing the Seoul city center to appear hazy as seen from a building in Jongno, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

This year, Seoul's reduction targets are 144 tons of ultrafine dust and 3,041 tons of nitrogen oxides. The "Seasonal Fine Dust Management System," which began in 2019 and is now in its sixth year, plans to proactively enforce emission controls using big data on areas with high operation of 4th and 5th-grade vehicles. In particular, large construction sites with a total floor area of over 10,000㎡ will be monitored in real-time for fine dust using IoT (Internet of Things). Energy-intensive large buildings such as department stores and hotels will also be inspected for compliance with appropriate heating temperatures.

5th-grade emission vehicles that have not undergone low-emission measures are prohibited from operating in Seoul on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. If vehicle operation is detected, a fine of 100,000 KRW per day will be imposed. Additionally, for 5th-grade vehicles (including those equipped with diesel particulate filters, emergency vehicles, vehicles for national merit recipients and persons with disabilities, etc.), a 50% surcharge will be applied to parking fees at city-operated parking lots (including season tickets), along with emission and idling crackdowns and inspections at private vehicle inspection centers.

Among air pollution emission facilities (a total of 2,389 sites), special inspections will be conducted on 717 workplaces for abnormal operations. The number of eco-friendly construction sites will also be expanded from the current 150 to 180 sites.

Construction machinery entering large-scale government construction sites will be equipped with information patterns (QR codes) providing details such as manufacturing dates to restrict the use of outdated construction equipment. To reduce fine dust in the heating (fuel combustion) sector, 80,000 eco-friendly boilers will be distributed for home use, and compliance with appropriate heating temperatures (public 18℃, private 20℃ or below) will be checked at energy-intensive buildings such as hotels and department stores (299 sites). Furthermore, to minimize fine dust exposure, the length of fine dust intensive management roads will be extended (5th phase 257.3 km → 6th phase 259.1 km), road cleaning vehicles will be increased (5th phase 476 vehicles → 6th phase 490 vehicles), and management of multi-use facilities for vulnerable groups will be strengthened (using the first-ever integrated indoor air quality ventilation index by local governments), among other measures.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government believes that the implementation of this Seasonal Fine Dust Management System greatly contributes to improving air quality. According to the results of the 5th Seasonal Fine Dust Management System, compared to 2018 before the system was implemented, ultrafine dust concentrations improved by 37%, and the number of 5th-grade vehicles caught during the driving restrictions decreased by 51% compared to the 4th phase of the system. Yeojang-gwon, Head of Seoul's Climate and Environment Headquarters, said, "The special seasonal management measures to respond to the high concentrations of fine dust that frequently occur in winter have now reached their sixth phase," adding, "We ask for the active interest and participation of citizens so that the seasonal management system can be successfully implemented as in previous years."

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