Published
By Laura Bicker
BBC News, Seoul
Hwang Mi-sun used to watch over her baby son as he slept at their home in Seoul, to listen to every laboured breath.
From a young age he suffered from respiratory problems.
He's now four years old and has been given various drugs including strong steroid treatment to try to help. But after his fourth trip to hospital, the doctor had another piece of advice.
Mrs Hwang was told to keep her young son inside to save him from South Korea's toxic air.
"It was sad that my child started to learn not just words like mum and dad, but also fine dust so early on," she told me. "I even thought moving out of the country but I really want to live in Korea. So I'm going to do whatever I can help to solve the problem."
Image source, Hwang Mi
She decided to start campaigning and joined a group called Mothers Against Fine Dust, which stages protests and lobbies the government about the pollution.
The "fine dust" they're concerned about refers to sand which is picked up from Mongolian and Chinese deserts on prevailing winds during certain times of the year and blown to the peninsula.
But the almost romantic description hides the reality facing Koreans.
This air also contains carcinogens, invisible nano particles known as PM2.5 which can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and trigger a variety of illnesses including cancer. The lungs of children and the elderly are particularly susceptible.
'Violates our basic right to breathe'
Earlier this year, the levels of microfine dust particles PM 2.5 was recorded at 118 micrograms per cubic metre, the highest since monitoring began in 2015, according to the National Institute of Environmental Research.
Mrs Hwang moved her family out of Seoul to the suburbs to try to save her son from breathing in the worst of the "fine dust". But still she wanted to do more. Her campaign group was allowed to give evidence to politicians at the National Assembly.
The public hearing was fraught with emotion as mother after mother detailed the effects the pollution was having on their family. Many brought their toddlers who sat on their laps wearing face masks.
"Air pollution violates our basic right to breathe. I don't think it is a country if we don't even have the right to breathe," said one.
"Children just want to go outside and play. Nothing special, just to enjoy the change of seasons. To think that we are taking that away from them is heartbreaking," said another.
Image source, AFP
South Koreans are growing increasingly concerned about the effects the pollution is having on their health - 97% of people asked by the ministry of environment last year said air pollution was causing them physical or psychological pain.
The government's response has been to declare the "fine dust' as a social disaster to release emergency funding.
Asia's fourth largest economy has spent billions over several decades to defend itself against the threat of war from its North Korean neighbour - now it has to turn its attention to the effects the air is having on its population.
But is this new enemy from within or without?
Experts can't agree. Some say the polluted air comes from China - studies have suggested that as much as 60% of South Korea's air pollution comes from its western neighbour's industrial sites and coal plants.
Others say the problem lies closer to home.
Dangerous pollutants on the wind
To try to find out, officials from the environment ministry have been taking to the skies over the Yellow Sea, between the Korean peninsula and China.
We were allowed to go with them. It is incredibly cramped inside the specially adapted aeroplane, but they managed to give me a brief tour. We had to squeeze into tiny spaces between the various computers and numerous measuring devices.
Above a revving engine, the head researcher tells me the idea is to take samples of the air as we fly over the peninsula and measure them for various carcinogens and pollutants.
The instruments can tell which kind of particles come from certain industries such as coal power plants and which dangerous pollutants are carried by the wind. It will help give the scientists clues as to whether the bad air originated in China or South Korea.
As we climb above the peninsula, we soar near some of South Korea's own power plants. Coal generates about 40% of the country's total electricity, followed by nuclear and gas. Last year, South Korean coal imports hit a record high.
The government has closed down a number of ageing plants, but there are plans to build new ones in the next five years which has angered those campaigning for cleaner air.
Before we took flight I'd spoken to to Lee Ji-eon from the non-profit organisation, the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements (KFEM).
"All plans to build new coal plants should be halted," he said. "We also need to come up with a roadmap to reduce the share of coal-fired power generated electricity to below 20% by 2030. "
The government hasn't quite gone that far, but it has unveiled a new energy master plan to increase the amount of renewable energy it generates to 20% by 2030.
A political issue
Back on board, and after an hour flying over the Yellow Sea, there is no longer a view outside my window. The air is not just hazy, it is so thick only shreds of light make their way through. We are about 500m above sea level and the scientists are busy recording various readings of sulphur dioxide and what was described to me as black carbon.
The head researcher Ahn Joon-young is pointing out some of his findings. It seems the closer we get to China, the more polluted the air is becoming. On this day at least.
"My research goal is: where does this pollution come from, how much is it coming to Korea, and what is it we have to collaborate with other countries [on] to reduce our air pollution," he tells me.
"I am finding higher concentrations of black carbon and sulphur dioxide over the sea than we found inland. That means that some pollutants have travelled from another region to Korea."
When I ask him where they may have travelled from he laughs a little nervously.
"It is a political issue, I hear," he says.
Too little, too late?
He may not want to name China on camera, but other South Korean officials have been far more forthright.
The mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon, said earlier this year that environmental researchers had concluded that China was responsible for 50-60% of South Korea's pollution problem.
China has stated on a number of occasions that it is not entirely to blame for South Korea's air quality and has urged Seoul to take more responsibility.
Image source, Getty Images
Lee Ji-eon from KFEM agrees. "Pointing the finger of blame at others will never solve the problem - especially as there are things we can do.
"If we are asking China to take action, it would make a more convincing argument if we have dealt with our own problems first. For instance, we clearly know diesel cars contribute the most to urban fine dust and yet the total number of diesel cars has increased which is the clear indication of policy failure."
South Korea's President Moon Jae-in has appointed the former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as a fine dust tsar.
He stressed the need to identify the source of the dust first before drafting further policies and we await the findings from a month of flights over the Yellow Sea.
Environmentalists have welcomed this appointment, and the research, but they believe that is still too little and already it is too late for those suffering serious health problems.
Every year, 18,000 people are thought to die from pollution related illnesses in South Korea, according to the World Health Organization.
The issue also seems to drift in and out of newspaper headlines and the public consciousness along with the seasons. Politicians come under pressure to solve the problem only when the fine dust is at its worst during spring and winter.
But people such as Hwang Mi-Sun are always aware that their families are at risk. She believes drastic action is needed now if South Korea is to save the health of its next generation.
"I don't ask for much. I just want my children to run outside under a blue sky and play with the soil on the ground. That's my biggest wish."
Tracking the toxic air that's killing millions
26 April 2019
'Toxic air is killing us but we can’t afford to quit'
18 November 2018
What does air pollution do to our bodies?
2 April 2019
(Video) OECD ranks South Korea's air pollution 5th worst in the world'Our water pollution is a cancer'
30 April 2019
Air pollution 'harms mental performance'
28 August 2018
Mexico City declares pollution alert
15 May 2019
(Video) Seoul and Beijing trade blame over unhealthy levels of fine dust in Korea
FAQs
What is the cause of fine dust in Korea? ›
Public perception in Korea casts China as the major culprit in this issue of air quality, even though data from the joint research of National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) and NASA indicate that 52 percent of the fine dust at Olympic Park in Seoul comes from South Korean domestic factories, while only 34 ...
What causes pollution in South Korea? ›A large percentage of the pollutants are blown in by the prevailing winds from China. It is thought that between 30 and 50 percent of PM2. 5 pollutant in South Korea, originated from China.
Does air pollution in Korea come from China? ›China. Many South Koreans blame China for its pollution because of the spread of their yellow dust that is being produced by huge factories and coal-fired power plants. China causes 30 to 50 percent of the PM2.5 in South Korea on normal days, but 60 to 80 percent on the worst days.
Does South Korea have a lot of pollution? ›The capital Seoul, the largest city and home to about 10 million people, has the nation's worst pollution. The average resident will live 1.7 years less if the city's high pollution levels continue relative to if the WHO guideline was met.
Is South Korea a clean country? ›...
Cleanest Countries in the World 2022.
| Country | EPI Score | 10 Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 66.5 | 2.20 |
| Israel | 65.8 | 5.20 |
| Estonia | 65.3 | 4.30 |
| Cyprus | 64.8 | 6.30 |
| Position | Country | PM2.5 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 173 |
| 2 | India | 172 |
| 3 | India | 149 |
| 4 | India | 146 |
Yellow dust is actually sand from deserts in China and Mongolia that high speed surface winds carry into both North and South Korea during specific periods every year.
What is fine dust pollution? ›Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an air pollutant that is a concern for people's health when levels in air are high. PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated.
What is China dust? ›China Dust is a 50/50 blend of JIS Z8901 Class 8 Test Dust and naturally occurring Silicon Dioxide (SiO2). China Dust is made per Laboratory Test Method BZ 106-01.
How good is Korean Air? ›Korean Air has been designated as a 5-star airline by SkyTrax, one of the world's most prestigious air transport rating organizations. Headquartered in London, Skytrax has evaluated and awarded the service quality of global airlines since 1999. The 5-star rating recognizes the world's best quality in aviation service.
Which country is the most polluted in the world and why? ›
| Rank | Country/Region | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangladesh | 83.3 |
| 2 | Chad | - |
| 3 | Pakistan | 65.8 |
| 4 | Tajikistan | - |
Indicators of economy in South Korea
Worldwide gross domestic product in 2021 was at about 12.259 USD per capita. GDP in South Korea, on the other hand, reached USD 34.758 per capita, or 1,798.53 billion USD in the whole country. South Korea is therefore one of the world's largest economies and is currently at rank 10.
- Bangladesh – 76.9 µg/m³
- Chad – 75.9 µg/m³
- Pakistan – 66.8 µg/m³
- Tajikistan – 59.4 µg/m³
- India – 58.1 µg/m³
- Oman – 53.9 µg/m³
- Kyrgyzstan – 50.8 µg/m³
- Bahrain – 49.8 µg/m³
Water pollution. Water pollution sources are largely classified as domestic sewage, industrial sewage, and livestock wastewater.
Who has the best air quality in the world? ›| # | city | US AQI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beijing, China | 154 |
| 2 | Delhi, India | 153 |
| 3 | Incheon, South Korea | 151 |
| 4 | Wuhan, China | 139 |
In September 2012, Google re-enabled YouTube uploads in Korea following a three-year block.
How do we stop pollution? ›- Reduce the number of trips you take in your car.
- Reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use.
- Avoid burning leaves, trash, and other materials.
- Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.
- Switzerland, 9.0.
- Luxembourg, 9.0.
- Portugal, 9.1.
- Russia, 9.3.
- Denmark, 9.4.
- USA, 9.6.
- Netherlands, 9.7.
- Japan, 9.8.
Which is the most polluted city in India 2022? ›
Nothing seems to go right for India's efforts to tackle pollution as eight Indian cities are featured in the list of the top 10 most polluted cities of Asia. Gurugram, with the worst air quality, topped the list released by World Air Quality Index.
What is fine dust made of? ›Dust is made of fine particles of solid matter. On Earth, it generally consists of particles in the atmosphere that come from various sources such as soil lifted by wind (an aeolian process), volcanic eruptions, and pollution. Dust in homes is composed of about 20–50% dead skin cells.
Is there fine dust in Japan? ›“Japan's long-range transboundary PM2. 5 problem” (Shunji Matsuoka) discusses the context in which the fine dust issue first arose in Japan, changes in environmental standards in order to deal with fine dust, and the extent of influence of fine dust from China on Japan.
Does Korea have a desert? ›There are no desert regions in South Korea.
What is dust caused by? ›Where does dust come from? The natural erosion of soil, sand and rock is the most common source of dust. Pollen, microscopic organisms, plant material and dander (dead skin cells shed by animals) are also part of the dust in the environment.
Does Japan have yellow dust? ›This dust is stirred up by the wind from deserts in Mongolia, northern China and Kazakhstan, and carried in clouds over China, North and South Korea, and Japan.
How does dust pollution affect the environment? ›Impacts on the environment and society
But dust also has many negative impacts on agriculture, including reducing crop yields by burying seedlings, causing loss of plant tissue, reducing photosynthetic activity and increasing soil erosion.
China is one of the countries most severely jeopardized by dust-sand storms and desertification (DSSD). The total area of desertified land in China amounts to 2.67 million km2, which is 27.9% of the country's landmass.
What caused dust storms in China? ›Dust storms in China have occurred since long before humans had a widespread impact on the landscape. During the repeated ice ages of the past 2.6 million years, huge volumes of dust were generated by the advance and retreat of ice sheets, settling to form deposits known as loess.
Does China have sand? ›Badain Jaran Desert is the hometown of the highest sand dunes in China, even in the world, with the relative height being 200 to 500 meters.
What causes yellow dust in Korea? ›
Yellow dust is actually sand from deserts in China and Mongolia that high speed surface winds carry into both North and South Korea during specific periods every year.
What is fine dust pollution? ›Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an air pollutant that is a concern for people's health when levels in air are high. PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated.
How do you deal with fine dust? ›Though all of our experts agree that you'll pick up a good amount of dust with a dry microfiber cloth, several of them suggest dampening your microfiber cloths with water or spraying them with an all-purpose cleaner before use, to help them grip and remove dust better.
What are the environmental issues in South Korea? ›The environment of South Korea is the natural environment of South Korea, which occupies the southern half of the Korean peninsula. Environment - current issues: air pollution in large cities; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; acid rain; drift net fishing.
Why is China so dusty? ›The main cause of yellow dust is desertification of northern China, Mongolia, and Central Asia. Desertification in these regions owe to extensive logging in the forests and extensive harvesting of arable land.
What is fine dust made of? ›Dust is made of fine particles of solid matter. On Earth, it generally consists of particles in the atmosphere that come from various sources such as soil lifted by wind (an aeolian process), volcanic eruptions, and pollution. Dust in homes is composed of about 20–50% dead skin cells.
Which countries have the worst air pollution? ›- Bangladesh – 76.9 µg/m³
- Chad – 75.9 µg/m³
- Pakistan – 66.8 µg/m³
- Tajikistan – 59.4 µg/m³
- India – 58.1 µg/m³
- Oman – 53.9 µg/m³
- Kyrgyzstan – 50.8 µg/m³
- Bahrain – 49.8 µg/m³
“Japan's long-range transboundary PM2. 5 problem” (Shunji Matsuoka) discusses the context in which the fine dust issue first arose in Japan, changes in environmental standards in order to deal with fine dust, and the extent of influence of fine dust from China on Japan.
What is dust caused by? ›Where does dust come from? The natural erosion of soil, sand and rock is the most common source of dust. Pollen, microscopic organisms, plant material and dander (dead skin cells shed by animals) are also part of the dust in the environment.
Does Japan have yellow dust? ›This dust is stirred up by the wind from deserts in Mongolia, northern China and Kazakhstan, and carried in clouds over China, North and South Korea, and Japan.
Where the fine dust is coming from? ›
These particles are created from emissions from cars, trucks, buses, power plants, and other activities such as burning fuels from wood and coal. Natural events such as wildfires can also contribute Fine Dust to the air.
Is there more dust in the world? ›Now, UCLA scientists report that there is four times the amount of coarse dust in Earth's atmosphere than is currently simulated by climate models. The findings appear in the journal Science Advances.
Why is my room so dusty? ›5 Reasons Why Your Room is So Dusty and How to Fix ItReason #1: Your AreaReason #2: Rugs and CarpetsReason #3: Improper Cleaning HabitsReason #4: Pet Dander, Dust Particles, Dead Skin Cells and HairReason #5: Uncleaned AppliancesHow to Reduce Dust in Your Room?
What is the biggest environmental problem in Korea? ›...
Most concerning environmental issues according to citizens in South Korea as of March 2019.
South Korea has a continental climate characterised by very cold, dry winters and very hot, humid summers. Spring and autumn are relatively short and temperatures are mild and generally quite pleasant, making these the most comfortable seasons to visit South Korea.
What is South Korea doing to help the environment? ›Green life movement in Korea is implemented through the Green Start Movement, promoting green consumption, the Green Transportation Movement, reducing food waste, and making green homes. In order to motivate people to actively participate in the movement, incentives such as the carbon points systems are provided.