On the 13th, 'Grade 5 Vehicles' Restricted in Sejong...Emergency Fine Dust Reduction Measures Issued

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] An emergency fine dust reduction measure has been issued throughout Sejong.

The city announced that from 6 a.m. on the 13th, it will issue a fine dust (PM2.5) crisis alert at the ‘Interest’ level and implement ‘emergency reduction measures’ across the entire region.

So far, Sejong has experienced a high concentration phenomenon with an average fine dust (PM2.5) concentration of 50㎍/㎥ or higher between midnight and 4 p.m. on the 12th, due to the accumulation of locally generated and externally inflowed fine dust caused by stagnant air.

Additionally, on the 13th, the fine dust (PM2.5) level is expected to exceed the daily average of 50㎍/㎥ (meeting the criteria for issuing emergency reduction measures), prompting the city to issue the emergency reduction measures. The fine dust level is expected to recover to a ‘normal’ level from the morning of the 14th.

With the implementation of the emergency reduction measures, Sejong will restrict the operation of grade 5 emission vehicles starting from 6 a.m. on the 13th. The driving restriction will be maintained until 9 p.m. that day, and violators will be fined up to 100,000 KRW.

The city will also take measures such as adjusting operating rates and hours at mandatory business sites and construction sites located in the region. Accordingly, businesses that emit large amounts of fine dust, such as power generation and paper manufacturing (7 sites), and public facilities like incinerators must change operating hours, adjust operating rates, or improve efficiency.

Furthermore, construction sites will implement dust suppression measures such as changing or adjusting construction hours, operating water trucks, and covering with dustproof sheets.

The city plans to conduct inspections and crackdowns on business sites and construction sites that emit large amounts of fine dust in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and the Geumgang River Basin Environmental Office.

Lee Doo-hee, Director of the Environmental Greenery Bureau of the city, said, “The city plans to implement reduction measures by sector such as transportation and industry to minimize damage from high concentrations of fine dust, and simultaneously promote measures to protect the private sector and vulnerable groups.”

Fine Dust (PM2.5) Crisis Alert Issuance Criteria