Doubt grows over fine dust countermeasure

By Lee Kyung-min

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has failed to draw what it intended to be overwhelming support for a measure exempting fares for those who use public transportation during commuting hours. Most commuters say the one-day fare exemption is not enough of an incentive to encourage drivers to leave their cars at home. Under the measure effective only on Monday, those who use the subway or buses between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Seoul are exempted from paying fares. This came as part of efforts to tackle air pollution exacerbated by fine dust, a considerable amount of which is believed to come from motor vehicle exhaust, amid increased levels of fine dust in the city in recent years.

Some commuters welcomed the move, saying it was a great way of saving money. “I heard the news and decided I should take the bus, which takes about 20 minutes more for me to get to work than when I drive,” a woman in her 40s said. “Gas prices continue to go up and saving money is always a smart choice when I have a limited budget from my monthly paycheck.”

However, skepticism is dominant among many others whose workplaces are far away from subway or bus stations.

“I don’t’ see the need to take public transportation only because it’s free for the day, since it is difficult for me to take a bus and then take the subway again,” an office worker surnamed Lee said. “If the city government is seeking to encourage more drivers to leave their cars at home, then other viable driver-oriented measures such as incentivizing carpooling should be introduced.”

Another officer worker surnamed Park, who works in Gangnam, southern Seoul, said he used the subway to go to work after he heard about the fare exemption Sunday. “My apartment is located near a subway station and I don’t mind taking the subway, since the basement of the building where I work is connected with the subway exit. I thought to myself, I saved enough for a cup of coffee today,” he said. “But those who drive to work because they live far from subway stations are less likely to choose public transportation just because it is free. I understand the government means to limit the number of cars on the road, but more effective measures are needed.” Traffic volume remains largely unaffected by the one-day measure. According to a road traffic department under the National Police Agency, as of 8 a.m., no significant decrease in traffic volume was detected on the two major riverside highways in the city.

Rep. Park Young-sun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said the city should come up with long-term measures. “The government first needs to identify the exact cause of the fine dust. Other coal-operated industrial facilities and restaurants should be put under stringent review,” she wrote on Facebook. “So, far we have largely blamed China as the source of fine dust that travels to the country, but we need to figure out whether we are doing our part.”

Last July, a joint monitoring project with the Ministry of Environment and NASA concluded _ contrary to popular belief _ only about a third of the fine dust in Korea originates from China. The study, participated in by 580 scientists from 80 local and overseas institutions in 2016 between May 2 and June 12, stated more than half, or 52 percent, of fine dust was produced domestically and the remaining 48 percent came from outside the country.