첫 5일 연속 미세먼지 비상조치…제주는 사상 처음, 정부 비상 대책들
For five straight days now, most parts of South Korea including the capital Seoul... have been blanketed by toxic fine dust, triggering the government to implement emergency measures to reduce the alarming levels of air pollutants.
President Moon Jae-in today urged all government bodies to help tackle the issue.
Our Oh Soo-young is out in central Seoul... to update us on the situation.
So, Soo-young, it looks like we're set for another day of "emergency" air pollution on Wednesday.
That's right, Daniel. It's already been five consecutive days that emergency fine dust reduction measures are in place, an unprecedented period of time for such measures to be in effect in any part of the country.
On Tuesday, the measures extended to twelve major cities and provinces,... which include Seoul, the surrounding Gyeonggi-do Province -- and for the first time ever -- the southern resort Island of Jeju.
Under a law enforced last month, local governments are required to take action when ultra-fine dust density is forecast to be "very bad",... or when average daily density exceeds 50 micrograms per cubic meter.
Measures in Seoul, for instance, include an alternate driving system for civil servants.
Industrial facilities and power plants are also restricted in terms of operational hours and output during the emergency period.
A number of flights and ferries in Jeollanam-do Province have been canceled due to the dust and fog.
Unfortunately, due to slow and stagnant winds from China, experts say the current fine dust conditions are unlikely to clear up soon.
And the environment ministry said Tuesday that emergency measures will stay in place across the capital area.
The situation remains critical so top level officials, including the president, have been working to address the issue. What's been discussed so far?
Well President Moon Jae-in received an almost hour-long report from Environment Minister on Tuesday.
Cho told the president that related ministries will implement all possible measures to address the alarming level of air pollution, which doesn't seem to be dissipating any time soon, and that officials will check how measures like restricting vehicles on the road and monitoring gas emissions from industrial sites are being enforced.
Moon called on all government bodies to help tackle the issue and that the public's needs must be instantly addressed.
In particular, he asked that finances are quickly prepared to distribute air purifiers for daycare centers, kindergartens and schools.
On top of that, government officials are said to be working to revise the law to legally classify fine dust as a form of "social disaster."
That's expected to help authorities better prepare countermeasures for worsening bouts of air pollution, as well as outlining a criteria for damage assessment.
Apparently, a proposal has already been submitted to parliament -- and officials say it will likely be approved quite soon.
