The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Wed, April 14, 2021 | 10:03
Seoul & Provinces
Korea has worst air of advanced economies, report shows
Posted : 2017-09-19 13:54
Updated : 2017-09-20 16:09
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Foggy air contaminated with fine dust in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap
Foggy air contaminated with fine dust in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji


Korea has the worst air quality of any advanced country, with its fine dust level soaring over the past 17 years, according to an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report released Sunday.

The report shows Korea had the worst level 12 times over the period with a fine dust level of 32 micrograms per cubic meter in 2015, compared with a 13.7 micrograms average for the OECD countries.

The fine dust exposure level refers to ultrafine particles or particle matter in one cubic meter of air.

Poland was second worst, with 23.4 micrometers, which is 8.6 micrometers lower than Korea.

At the other end of the scale, Iceland and Norway recorded 2.9 and 4.4 micrometers respectively as clean countries, the report said. The countries recorded low level of ultrafine particles, reflecting a significantly high level of reliance on renewable energy.

Iceland is 88.5 percent reliant on renewable energy and Norway is 44.6 percent. Korea figure is just 1.5 percent.

President Moon Jae-in pledged in August to expand the development and use of clean energy technologies, replacing aging coal and nuclear power plants by 2030.

The ministry will no longer give licenses to build or operate coal plants.

Emailejb@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
Fine dust clouds Seoul sky
The sky over Seoul turned foggy from Tuesday morning following weeks of relatively clean air. ...









 
LG
 
  • [EXCLUSIVE] LG-Magna joint venture 'very near' to win Apple EV project
  • Drug smuggling into Korea soars during pandemic
  • Korea, China strongly protest Japan's radioactive water release decision
  • Korea's COVID-19 vaccination timeline faces uncertainties
  • With more school outbreaks, health concerns grow
  • Migrant workers allowed to extend stay in Korea for one year
  • Korea expresses 'strong regret' over Japan's decision to release water from Fukushima
  • Miss Korea, now & then: Meet Korea's beauty icons of '70, '07, '18 [VIDEO]
  • Hotels prepare for ban on use of disposable products next year
  • Hyundai Motor, Samsung SDI forming battery partnership
  • Actress Seo Yea-ji accused of controlling boyfriend Actress Seo Yea-ji accused of controlling boyfriend
  • NCT DREAM to put out 1st full-length album on May 10 NCT DREAM to put out 1st full-length album on May 10
  • BLACKPINK's Rose sets 2 Guinness World Records with solo release BLACKPINK's Rose sets 2 Guinness World Records with solo release
  • Mamamoo to hold online concert on British streaming platform next month Mamamoo to hold online concert on British streaming platform next month
  • Chilean TV channel apologizes over racist jokes about BTS Chilean TV channel apologizes over racist jokes about BTS
DARKROOM
  • Locust outbreak

    Locust outbreak

  • Death toll rises as protests continue in Myanmar

    Death toll rises as protests continue in Myanmar

  • Say 'NO' to racism (Part 2)

    Say 'NO' to racism (Part 2)

  • Say 'NO' to racism (Part 1)

    Say 'NO' to racism (Part 1)

  • Worst dust storm chokes Beijing

    Worst dust storm chokes Beijing

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group