Local authorities took emergency measures on Monday to try and tackle the high level of ultra-fine dust cloaking Korea,... imposing an alternate no-driving day and shutting all public parking lots.
But are such steps really that effective?
Our Kim Mok-yeon tells us more.
As the average fine dust level in Seoul peaked at a record high of 99 micrograms per cubic meter on Sunday, the capital city, along with Incheon and Gyeonggi-do province,… announced that it is implementing emergency fine-dust reduction measures for fourth time this year on Monday, and those measures will be extended until Tuesday.
The measures include holding an alternating no-driving day, closing nearly 500 public parking lots and operating air cleaning trucks during the day to clean the dust from the streets.

"But this time around, the city had to cancel its public transport fee waiver during rush hours, as concerns have been raised over its cost-effectiveness since it was last implemented in January."

The environment ministry also announced that beginning Tuesday, it would lower the current threshold for ultra fine dust levels to be classified as "bad"... from the current 50, to 35 micrograms per cubic meter per day,... which is on par with that of the U.S. and Japan.
But despite such efforts, many citizens say they are suffering as a result of the pollution.

"I didn't wear a mask yesterday and my throat was very soar, so I had to buy one today"

"It's really bothersome that I have to wear masks these days because of the fine dust. I hope the government can come up with an effective solution."

An environment expert pointed out that the current government measures need to be further developed to obtain visible results.

"As of now, we don't have any coercive measures backed up by the law, just some partial countermeasures that ask for public participation, so I think the current measures are not very effective."

He said that in order to deal with the problem, mandatory regulations should first be created, which can then be boosted through active participation from the public.

Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.