As the crisp winds and freezing temperatures of winter begin to subside, spring has arrived to provide respite and the opportunity to enjoy some outdoor activities. Dull shades switch to a myriad of colors with countless beautiful flowers and trees blooming, and locals venture outside to take in the array of events hosted during this time of the year– cherry blossom festivals being a notable example. 

These days, however, spring also signals that the country is about to be blanketed in a thick murky smog. This year has been no different, and perhaps even worse than usual. Residents often do not even need to set their morning alarm clocks since the government’s warning system awakens them with the familiar news that masks need to be worn and windows must remain closed. Smog levels have broken the 300 micrograms per cubic meter on several days in areas of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province; and for perspective, this is double the level that prompts a phone notification from local authorities. The consequences are significant. Not only is it visually unattractive, but the inhalation of the polluted air contributes to a number of health related issues: asthma, lung cancer, respiratory disease, cardiovascular issues, and birth defects to name just a few on the list.

While Korea’s vehicles, power plants, and other industrial facilities stoke the problem, the issue is considerably amplified by fine sand particles that blow across from China’s deserts. Furthermore, China’s decision to move a number of its factories to its east coast, in an attempt to improve its domestic situation, has heaped more misery on the Korean peninsula. China already has nearly 250 incinerators on its east coast and news that it plans to build more is certain to add to the problem. President Moon Jae-in has reached out to China, and asked his counterpart, Xi Jinping, to contribute to the worsening problem, but he has also been upfront and admitted there is a lot that can be done domestically to remedy the problem.

South Korea’s commitment to improving its emissions actually pre-dates Moon, with its signing of the Paris Agreement in 2016. However, the current administration has vowed to cut domestic emissions by 30 percent by 2022 to put the country on track to meet its pledge of 37 percent by 2030; as well as help to protect those most at risk. Moon is taking on an active role by overseeing a fine dust task force that is putting a number of policies into immediate action.

First, ten of the country's oldest and highest polluting coal plants are to be closed down. Second, at-risk groups will receive greater government support. The elderly and disabled, who are those most affected, are having face masks issued to them. Another vulnerable group, children, are benefitting from action taken by the South Korean Education Ministry. Every kindergarten and elementary school will have air purifiers installed within the next three years, and $6 million is being invested into new virtual sports facilities at 178 schools across the country, which enables physical education lessons and recess periods to take place indoors. 

Third and perhaps most important, there will be a ban on old diesel vehicles entering the city when pollution levels are high. This is actually part of an ongoing plan to nudge residents towards more environmentally-friendly options. Change for the better has been noticeable. More bike paths and pedestrian-only zones are under construction, such as the elevated urban walkway that connects Namdaemun Market and Seoul Station and resembles New York’s famed High Line. In fact, Seoul has taken the lead with ever more electric buses replacing the traditional diesel ones. The city’s ever expanding subway system, cheap bike rental, and an increasing number of charging stations for electric cars are also making “green” living a more accessible and convenient option. It should also be noted that a recent emergency plan by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon to provide free public transit on poor air quality days was shelved when it did not prove to be successful. It resulted in only a small reduction in the number of vehicles on the roads and a significant loss in revenue that arguably could have been put to better use on other environmentally-friendly projects.

Thus, while progress is being made, it is clear that the country has a long way to go in dealing with this issue. For a country that takes a great deal of pride in its four distinct seasons, it is a shame to see arguably its best season ruined by the pollution problem.