Anti-fine dust measures called into question

A sign at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education shows that employees are only allowed to drive cars with license plate numbers ending in an odd number, Wednesday, after all public institutions and firms in Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas followed an alternate driving ban policy in response to fine dust. / Yonhap

By Kim Jae-heun

The local governments of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province implemented an alternate day driving ban for civil servants based on even and odd last numbers of license plates, Wednesday, as a move to curb fine dust.

However, people are questioning the effectiveness of the policy, as they have not noticed any improvement in the fine dust problem.

“Seoul City has put forward various countermeasures to fight fine dust but they have been ineffective. Most of the measures only inconvenienced people,” said Kang Ho-jin, 43, who works in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul.

“I can see half of the people working in the public sector have to take public transportation on the alternate no driving day, but for ordinary citizens, they don't care. The policy is also only a recommendation,” Kang said.

A 24-year-old Korea University student surnamed Yoon said the country as a whole should tackle major causes of the dust such as domestic coal- and oil-burning power plants and fine dust coming from China, rather than forcing citizens to deal with efforts that bring minor effects.

“The government doesn't say anything to China and is only inconveniencing the people,” he added.

Rep. Lee Jun-seok of the minor Bareunmirae Party agreed the government is shifting the responsibility to the people rather than fighting the major source.

“Chinese firms' effects are enormous and predominant with regard to the ultrafine dust and fine dust affecting the Korean Peninsula. But the President and the Seoul mayor have said nothing to the neighboring superpower,” Lee said. “The ruling Democratic Party of Korea should also ask China why it is building factories along its east coast, which send great amounts of fine dust to Korea,” he said.

According to the National Institute of Environmental Research, a lot of ultrafine dust polluting the country's air comes from northeastern China and mixes with airborne pollutants already here.

However, the Ministry of Environment said the amount of fine dust produced locally and from overseas is always changing according to the timing and weather conditions.

“The amount of external fine dust can range from 32 percent to 68 percent. It is irregular. Also, the average level of fine dust in the air does not affect citizens equally,” a ministry official said. “Obviously, those standing behind an old diesel car, breathing in fine dust directly, are exposed to more deadly air pollution.

“I cannot say people will be free of fine dust problems if they follow government policy. But if we try hard, for example if half of citizens use public transportation and all local firms cut dust production by 10 percent to 20 percent, we can reduce the total fine dust produced domestically by 15 percent to 20 percent. That is 89 tons of fine dust a day, which is not a small amount.”

The ministry, together with the Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi local governments, called for special measures to take effect from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, when fine dust levels reached “bad” levels and alerts were issued.

The government issues emergency alerts when the concentration level of airborne ultrafine dust surpasses 50 micrograms per cubic meter.

The level peaked at 88 micrograms Tuesday but went down to 50 micrograms Wednesday morning, which is still considered unhealthy.

Some 527,000 workers at 7,408 public institutions or firms in the three regions had to follow the obligatory alternate day driving policy.

Seoul also closed 360 parking facilities at its office buildings and affiliated organizations to encourage residents to take the bus or subway, while banning people from driving old diesel cars into the capital. It imposed a 100,000 won ($88) fine on those who failed to follow the rule.

Nearly 12,000 people died due to diseases caused by fine dust here last year, according to a ministry report revealed by Rep. Hong Chul-ho of the Liberty Korea Party.