Seoul to make public transport free to fight fine dust

By Kim Se-jeong

Public transportation will be free on days when particulate matter 2.5 level is exceptionally high, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday.

The plan, to start in July, is to encourage people to leave their cars at home to fight fine dust, which is believed to cause cancer and other respiratory illnesses.

For the free ride to happen, the daily average of the particulate matter 2.5 level should exceed 50 micrometers per cubic meter and the forecast for the following day should be more than 50 micrometers. The city is projecting that to happen about seven times a year.

The announcement followed Saturday’s meeting on air pollution where 3,000 citizens discussed and voted for best solutions. The city pledged to put them into practice.

Seoul’s fine dust is a growing threat to public health.

Other solutions the city pledged to implement included providing free masks for those who can’t afford them, obliging businesses to use eco-friendly construction equipment and bolstering diplomatic efforts to enhance communication with China.