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Korea prepares for severe winter fine dust with China’s cooperation
First Vice Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kum Han-seung, left, announces the plan for the seventh seasonal fine dust management system at Government Complex Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
By Park Ung
Gov't to close up to 17 coal-fired plants, cap output at 46 others at 80 percent
As fine dust levels are forecast to rise this winter, the government will take targeted steps — including further closures of public coal-fired power plants — and deepen coordination with China, a key contributor to Korea’s air pollution.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Tuesday presided over the Special Policy Committee on Fine Dust and finalized the implementation plan for the seventh seasonal fine dust management system, which has operated every winter since 2019 to tighten controls on air pollutant emissions from December through March.
In Korea, fine dust levels typically rise in winter and spring due to westerly winds carrying pollutants from China, stagnant atmospheric conditions and reduced rainfall.
According to a National Institute of Environmental Research analysis released last month, about 55 percent of Korea’s ultrafine dust was traced to China, while 29 percent came from domestic sources. The study was conducted with NASA between February and March last year.
The government aims to cut ultrafine dust and its precursors by 2 percent from last year, to about 129,000 tons, and lower the national average PM2.5 level by 5 percent, from 20 micrograms per cubic meter to 19 micrograms per cubic meter.
To meet that goal, it will continue its fine dust information-sharing cooperation with China, exchanging daily forecast data and sharing policy measures, high-pollution alerts and progress updates throughout the seasonal management period.
Heavy fine dust hangs over Jongno District, central Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Climate, Energy and Environment Ministry First Vice Minister Kum Han-seung said the two countries held an environment ministers’ meeting in September and have since been exchanging forecasting data at least once a day.
“This information-sharing will continue through the seasonal management period, and high-level talks will be pursued if needed,” Kum added.
Yun Sun-jin, a professor in Seoul National University’s Department of Environmental Management, said fine dust drifting in from outside Korea lies beyond the country’s jurisdiction, making international cooperation essential for reducing pollution.
“No matter how much we cut domestic emissions, cross-border pollution will continue, making efforts on both sides indispensable,” Yun added.
Domestically, up to 17 public coal-fired power plants will be shut down — two more than last year — and output at as many as 46 units will be capped at 80 percent.
In the industrial sector, authorities will impose extra emission-reduction measures on 416 major facilities nationwide, while offering technical support to smaller businesses.
Restrictions on grade-5 emission vehicles — the dirtiest class, defined as emitting over 5.3 kilograms of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons per kilometer — will again apply in the greater Seoul area, along with six major metropolitan cities, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays.
To help the public prepare for poor air quality, high-pollution alerts will be issued 36 hours in advance, and Air Korea — the real-time weather app — will add an English-language service.