Seoul City Files Complaints Against 79 Unauthorized Fine Dust Emission Sites... Inspects 226 Emission Sources

Accusations Against Unauthorized Dust Emission Sites Including Vehicle Inspection Stations, Unauthorized Air Emission Facilities, and Construction Sites
Intensive Crackdown on Dust Emission Sites in 'Dust Concentration Management Areas' with Many Emissions During the 3rd Seasonal Dust Management Period

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 2nd that it conducted inspections on 226 sources of fine dust emissions in residential areas during the second fine dust seasonal management period from December last year to March this year, and reported 79 businesses for unauthorized fine dust emissions.

As a result of the inspections, investigations were conducted on 93 businesses that emitted fine dust without authorization, and the city reported 79 businesses, whose investigations have been completed, to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. The remaining 14 businesses under investigation will also be reported to the prosecution as soon as the investigations are completed.

The businesses reported this time violated the Atmospheric Environment Conservation Act by emitting air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere. Long-term exposure to air pollutants poses high health risks, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

The most frequently detected businesses were 41 automobile inspection centers, which were found to have emitted nitrogen oxides generated during vehicle inspections without installing air pollution control facilities, instead discharging through exhaust pipes such as branch pipes. Seven automobile repair shops that emitted volatile organic compounds unauthorizedly during paint mixing in automobile painting work or outdoor cutting work at construction sites, and 19 large construction sites were also detected. Additionally, two drivers who illegally damaged diesel particulate filters (DPF) attached to grade 5 vehicles were included.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated that during the upcoming third fine dust seasonal management period, it will conduct focused inspections on businesses that emit air pollutants without authorization and take strong measures such as reporting against detected businesses. In particular, inspections will prioritize fine dust concentration management areas where many air pollutant-emitting businesses are located.

Lee Sa-hyung, Director of the Vehicle Pollution Reduction Division of Seoul City, said, “Seoul will intensively inspect sources of fine dust emissions occurring around residential areas during the fine dust seasonal management period,” and urged, “Business owners should thoroughly manage fine dust emission sources.”