Dongjak-gu, Operation of Seasonal Fine Dust Management System

Formation of Fine Dust Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters... Strengthened Emission Reduction Policies for 4 Months Starting December... 5 Areas, 10 Projects Including Eco-friendly Home Boiler Installation Subsidies and Eco Mileage Special Points

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Changwoo Lee) is operating the “Seasonal Fine Dust Management System” during the winter months, when high concentrations of fine dust frequently occur, for four months starting this month.

The district has formed a Fine Dust Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters led by the mayor, implementing enhanced crisis alert level responses compared to normal times, including ▲situation dissemination and protection of vulnerable groups ▲reduction management of fine dust emissions from vehicles and construction sites ▲strengthening the implementation of fine dust reduction measures.

The Seasonal Fine Dust Management System is promoted through 10 projects across five areas: ▲heating ▲transportation and transit ▲workplace management ▲exposure reduction ▲intensive public relations.

First, in the heating sector, the district will expand the support project for installing eco-friendly boilers for households, which was initiated last year as the first among Seoul’s autonomous districts using district funds.

In addition to low-income households this year and next, the target will be expanded to include ▲business facilities such as daycare centers, dormitories, and study rooms ▲newly built houses with fewer than 30 households ▲old apartments ▲and multi-family housing switching from individual heating systems.

Also, in the transportation and transit sector, special fine dust seasonal management points will be provided for the Passenger Car Mileage and Eco Mileage programs.

Passenger Car Mileage awards 10,000 mileage points to registered residents who drive 1,850 km or less, which is 50% of the average driving distance in Seoul, and Eco Mileage grants up to 12,000 mileage points to individual members who reduce their average usage by 20% or more, depending on the reduction rate.

The awarded mileage points can be converted and used for local tax payments, mobile book and culture gift certificates, and more.

During the period, the district will also conduct focused management of air pollutant and scattered dust generating workplaces and implement fine dust exposure reduction projects.

An inspection team for air pollutant emission workplaces will conduct intensive on-site inspections of a total of 74 locations, including 27 air pollutant emission businesses and 47 scattered dust generating workplaces.

Ten vehicles in total, including five dust suction cleaning vehicles and five water cleaning vehicles, will operate to increase cleaning frequency on key management roads in school and hospital dense areas, such as the 5.5 km section from Noryangjin-ro to Yeouidae-ro and the 0.7 km section of Heukseok Hangang-ro.

Furthermore, following the designation of the Heukseok-dong area as Seoul-type Fine Dust Safe Zone in January, the first nationwide, the district installed window ventilation-type air purifiers in 18 locations including daycare centers and senior centers, and installed fine dust safe zone promotional floor lights in four locations including the area around Chung-Ang University Hospital in October, considering local characteristics.

Lee Jeongsim, Director of the Clean Environment Division, said, “Through this Seasonal Fine Dust Management System, we will reduce high concentration fine dust emissions so that residents can live healthily,” and added, “We hope for residents’ great interest and active participation in reducing fine dust emissions.”

Following the Moms Heart Cafe in Sadang 3-dong this year, smart air showers using the Internet of Things were installed in 16 district-run daycare centers within the area, creating a childcare environment where infants, young children, and parents can feel safe from COVID-19 infectious diseases and fine dust.