Sejong Implements Seasonal Management System for 'High-Concentration Fine Dust' from December to March

A citizen is resting against the backdrop of a hazy city sky at Namsan Seoul Tower in Seoul, where the fine dust concentration in the metropolitan area including Seoul showed a 'bad' level. The photo is unrelated to the article. Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Sejong City will implement a seasonal management system to reduce high concentrations of fine dust. The seasonal management system will be in effect from December to March. This period is when fine dust bad days and advisories are concentrated due to unfavorable weather conditions such as atmospheric stagnation. In fact, over the past three years, the average concentration of ultrafine dust in Sejong from December to March was more than 34% higher than the annual average concentration.

On the 28th, the city announced that it will promote 14 measures in six sectors across two areas?emission source management and citizen health protection?to reduce fine dust during the seasonal management period.

First, in the emission source management area under the industrial sector, the city will implement measures such as ▲real-time monitoring and self-reduction of fine dust at large construction sites ▲intensive monitoring of illegal emissions by the fine dust surveillance team ▲guidance to reduce emissions at large air emission business sites (26 locations).

In the transportation sector, measures include ▲restricting the operation of grade 5 vehicles during emergency reduction measures ▲inspection of compliance with restrictions on the use of old construction machinery at public construction sites over 10 billion KRW. In the living sector, measures include ▲expanding road cleaning vehicle operation distance by 20% on roads under intensive fine dust management ▲focused collection of agricultural waste ▲prevention of illegal burning of agricultural residues.

For citizen health protection, the city will strengthen on-site inspections of facilities used by sensitive and vulnerable groups such as daycare centers, kindergartens, schools, and elderly care facilities, and has also prepared measures to distribute fine dust masks to low-income groups.

Additionally, as part of managing citizen activity spaces, the city will enhance indoor air quality inspections at 100 multi-use facilities including newly built apartment complexes and strengthen monitoring in fine dust intensive management zones.

Lee Doo-hee, Director of the Environmental Greenery Bureau of the city, said, “Every year, December to March is a period when fine dust concentrations become dense,” and added, “The city will strive to create a pleasant air environment and protect citizen health through strengthened reduction measures.”