On the afternoon of the 12th, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced a ‘Concern’ level alert for ultra-fine dust in the metropolitan area, including Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, and the western Gangwon region. This warning comes as a result of stagnant air conditions allowing the accumulation of residual and domestic fine dust, exacerbated by additional inflow of foreign fine dust. The alert system consists of four levels: Concern, Caution, Alert, and Serious, with the ‘Concern’ category triggered by various conditions concerning dust concentration standards.

As a result of the alert, local authorities will implement emergency reduction measures starting from 6 AM to 9 PM on the 13th. This includes restrictions on the operation of grade 5 vehicles contributing to air pollution, and violators will face fines of 100,000 KRW. Additionally, public and administrative institutions in the alerted zones will practice vehicle operation regulations to mitigate the dust levels. Measures will also extend to the private sector and construction sites, including adjustments to operational times and dust suppression techniques, such as covering construction sites and enhanced street cleaning in urban areas.

The urgency of this warning reflects a broader issue regarding air quality management in South Korea, which has been grappling with fine dust pollution, especially from external sources. Hong Han-seung, the first vice minister of climate, emphasized the seriousness of this second high-density fine dust crisis this year, underlining the need for robust response strategies to maintain air quality. The proactive measures are indicative of the government’s approach to protect public health amid ongoing environmental challenges.