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| The Government Complex in Seoul runs odd-even vehicle operation on Feb. 20 when emergency measures against fine dust were issued. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon |
By Kim Jae-heun
Seoul is seeking to adopt compulsory odd-even vehicle operation when emergency measures against fine dust are issued for over four consecutive days.
Seoul Metropolitan Government has been reviewing a special law on reducing fine dust to provide ordinance on restricting vehicles when the air pollution records hazardous levels on the day, according to the environment authorities Sunday.
Cars are currently divided into five different categories based on their eco-friendliness. Those with grade 5 are banned from Seoul streets when the city government enacts emergency measures. Grade 5 cars are mostly old diesel vehicles and sometimes gasoline or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cars.
Three provinces and cities in metropolitan areas have been forcing employees at some 7,400 public firms to follow the government's odd- and even-day driving system when the heavy fine dust alerts are issued, but Seoul City wants to adopt the compulsory ordinance for all citizens now.
Seoul is planning to collect citizens' opinions before air pollution returns next winter.
If the idea is welcomed and it is put into an action, all cars in the capital city have to take turns driving on days with heavy fine dust depending on the last digit on their license plate. Vehicles driven by diplomats, reporters, disabled persons and others who have no choice but to use cars will be exempted from the ordinance.
The driving restriction program has been adopted on special occasions when the country held global festivals including the 2002 World Cup and 2018 Winter Olympic Games to reduce traffic on the road.
The Ministry of Environment confirmed that the fine dust levels dropped by 13 percent during the days when PyeongChang ran odd-even vehicle operation order compared to levels on the same period of previous years.
However, many believe Seoul City's idea will face big opposition from the public as it inconveniences millions.
The ministry, which is the sole competent authority related to environmental issues, sees the city government's efforts positively but doubts citizens will accept it.
"We support Seoul City's attempt to reduce the fine dust aggressively but it is important to hear citizen's opinions and their willingness to follow the order," said Yoo Je-chul, head of the ministry's Living Environment Policy Office.
Kwon Min, manager at the city's Air Quality Management Division, said the city government is taking the measure as a last resort to curb fine dust.
"The odd-even vehicle operation order will not take place often and we are planning to run it when air pollution becomes very serious for continuous days," Kwon said.
