Strengthened Beyond Ministry of Environment Standard of 50?g/m³...Prohibition of Official Vehicle Operation During Self-Issued Alerts, Expansion of Road Cleaning, and Enforcement of Vehicle Idling Controls 추진
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangdong-gu (District Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) is strengthening the emergency fine dust reduction measure issuance criteria from last year's 40㎍/m³ to 35㎍/m³.
This is a more stringent figure than the Ministry of Environment's standard of 50㎍/m³ and represents a proactive and preemptive measure to protect residents' health from fine dust, which is a social disaster, and to improve air quality.
The emergency fine dust reduction measure refers to restricting automobile operation, limiting certain construction processes, and other actions to reduce fine dust in a short period when high concentrations of ultrafine dust persist for a certain period.
Gangdong-gu prioritizes securing residents' health rights and is the first autonomous district to establish and implement its own "fine dust standards." This was a pledge during the 7th local government term, and in December 2018, the district amended the "Seoul Special City Gangdong-gu Ordinance on Reducing and Supporting Damage from Air Pollution Caused by Fine Dust" to establish legal and institutional grounds for implementing its own emergency reduction measures.
When the autonomous emergency reduction measure is issued, the district enforces bans on staff and official vehicle operation, encourages shortened operation hours at public and private construction sites, expands road cleaning, inspects vehicle emissions and cracks down on idling, and guides and inspects dust-generating businesses.
Additionally, in April last year, the related ordinance was amended to strengthen the safety net for vulnerable groups to fine dust. Health masks can be provided to protect residents such as the elderly, children, and pregnant women who have weakened respiratory immune systems.
Furthermore, from December to March of the following year, when fine dust is most severe, the district actively participates in the "Fine Dust Seasonal Management System," which implements strong reduction policies targeting traffic and workplaces, and plans to prevent fine dust damage through publicity and education with residents, actively encouraging their participation.
Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, "Health is the first step to residents' happiness. Just as we were the first autonomous district to establish and implement our own fine dust standards to protect residents' health, we will continue to promote various fine dust reduction policies tailored to our district's circumstances to create a pleasant Gangdong."
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