Our top story this morning...
People in South Korea have been subjected a deeply concerning increase in fine dust concentrations in recent weeks,... and emergency measures to reduce the atrocious air pollution have now been in place for five straight days in most parts of the nation.
The situation is so bad that measures have been expanded to twelve cities and provinces, even including the southern resort island of Jeju, often praised for its clean, crisp air.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
Emergency fine dust reduction steps were issued for the fifth straight day on Tuesday as the nation continues to be blanketed by thick clouds of fine dust particles.
The Ministry of Environment has issued emergency measures in twelve cities and provinces, from Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi-do Province to Jeju Island.
This is the first time such measures have been put in place on the nation's resort island of Jeju.
It's also the first time for the anti-pollution action to be put into force for five straight days since the South Korean government introduced the measures in January 2017.
"I ask all cities and provinces to tackle fine dust proactively, regarding it as a state of disaster."
Such emergency measures are put in place when ultra-fine dust concentration is forecast to be "very bad" or when average daily density surpasses 50 micrograms per cubic meter.
"With a high level of fine dust flowing in from overseas and air stagnation, fine dust levels are forecast to be "bad" or "very bad" until Wednesday."
Old diesel vehicles weighing over two-point-five tons will be banned from the road in Seoul on Tuesday.
On top of this, 50 percent of public vehicles are to be grounded in most parts of the country due to the implementation of the mandatory "alternate no-driving" system.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.
