The Ministry of Environment (Minister Kim Wansup) announced that the national annual average concentration of fine dust (PM-2.5) for 2024 recorded 15.6 μg/m³, marking the lowest level since the beginning of fine dust observations in 2015. This figure is based on an analysis of observations from the urban air quality monitoring network at 531 locations across the country, showing a 38.1% decrease compared to the fine dust concentration in 2015 (from 25.2 to 15.6 μg/m³) and a 14.3% decrease compared to the previous year (18.2 μg/m³).

※ National fine dust concentration (μg/m³): (2015) 25.2 → (2019) 23.1 → (2023) 18.2 → (2024) 15.6 

When examining the concentration of fine dust by grade, the number of days classified as ‘Good’ (average national daily concentration of 15 μg/m³ or less) reached a record high of 212 days since observations began. The number of days exceeding the ‘Bad’ grade (average national daily concentration of 36 μg/m³ or more) was also the lowest ever, at just 10 days. There were no days classified as ‘Very Bad’ (average national daily concentration of 76 μg/m³ or more) across the country. 

※ Fine dust concentration grades (μg/m³): Good 0-15, Moderate 16-35, Bad 36-75, Very Bad 76 and above

In 2024, the concentration of fine dust across 17 cities and provinces in the country ranged from 12.3 to 18.9 μg/m³, with Jeju and Jeollanam-do having the lowest at 12.3 μg/m³. Following them were Gangwon-do (12.9 μg/m³) and Gyeongsangnam-do (13.0 μg/m³) as the next lowest. 

Among the 17 cities and provinces, the region that showed the greatest improvement in fine dust concentration since observations began was Jeollabuk-do, with a 54.8% improvement compared to 2015 (from 35.4 to 16.0 μg/m³). This was followed by Jeollanam-do with a 50.4% reduction (from 24.8 to 12.3 μg/m³) and Gangwon-do with a 50.0% reduction (from 25.8 to 12.9 μg/m³). 

In addition, among the 153 cities and counties nationwide, the regions with the greatest improvement in concentration since 2020, when the urban air quality monitoring network was fully installed, were Taebaek, Gangwon-do with a 48.9% improvement (from 18.2 to 9.3 μg/m³), followed by Gurye, Jeolla-do with a 42.9% reduction (from 18.4 to 10.5 μg/m³), and Boeun, Chungcheongbuk-do with a 41.4% reduction (from 21.5 to 12.6 μg/m³).   

In addition, it was con.firmed that in Dongducheon and Bucheon in Gyeonggi-do; Chuncheon, Yeongwol, Donghae, Yanggu, Inje, Hoengseong, Yangyang, and Goseong in Gangwon-do; Okcheon in Chungcheongbuk-do; Buyeo in Chungcheongnam-do; Imsil in Jeollabuk-do; Yeongam, Hampyeong, and Yeonggwang in Jeollanam-do; and Yangsan, Miryang, and Geoje in Gyeongsangnam-do, the concentration of fine dust decreased by more than 30% compared to 2020. For reference, in 2024, the concentration of fine dust across the 153 cities and counties nationwide ranged from 8.8 to 21.2 μg/m³, with Yangyang in Gangwon-do having the lowest at 8.8 μg/m³, followed by Goseong (9.1 μg/m³) and Taebaek (9.3 μg/m³) in Gangwon-do, Uljin in Gyeongsangbuk-do (9.7 μg/m³), and Sacheon in Gyeongsangnam-do (10.1 μg/m³).

The improvement in fine dust concentration in 2024 appears to be the result of a combination of factors, including the effects of domestic policies, a decrease in foreign influx, and favorable weather conditions. 

In terms of domestic policies, intensive reduction measures targeting key emission sources across all sectors, including industry, transportation, and daily life, were implemented to improve fine dust concentration. 

In the industrial sector, total allowable emissions of air pollutants were established for businesses within the air management areas, requiring them to emit pollutants within this total limit. The number of businesses subject to total emissions management significantly increased from 400 in 2020, when the system was first implemented, to 1,013 by 2024. In addition, support for the installation of air pollution control facilities and technical consulting for small-scale businesses facing financial difficulties is underway, and by 2024, support for the installation of control facilities was completed for a total of 684 businesses.

In the transportation sector, initiatives such as early scrappage support for old diesel vehicles have led to a rapid decrease in the number of diesel vehicles classified as Grade 5 in emissions (based on the criteria for low-emission vehicle insurance). 

As of 2024, the number of Grade 5 diesel vehicles stands at 209,000, which is a 25.6% decrease from the previous year (281,000) and a 79.1% decrease from 2020 (1,002,000). In addition, thanks to the early scrappage support program launched last year targeting all Grade 4 diesel vehicles, their numbers decreased from 976,000 in 2023 to 822,000 in 2024, a reduction of 15.8%. Meanwhile, the number of electric and hydrogen vehicles has reached a total of 750,200 (cumulative)** by 2024, due to the expansion of charging infrastructure*, representing a 25.1% increase compared to the previous year.

* Electric vehicle chargers (305,000 in 2023→415,000 in 2024), hydrogen vehicle chargers (300 in 2023→386 in 2024) ※ Cumulative basis

** Electric vehicles (excluding two-wheelers) (570,000 in 2023→712,000 in 2024), hydrogen vehicles (34,400 in 2023→38,200 in 2024) 

In the living sector, a total of 17,696 eco-friendly boilers for households targeting vulnerable groups such as low-income households were distributed in 2024, and since the implementation of the distribution project in 2017, a cumulative total of 1.48 million units have been distributed. In addition, to prevent illegal burning in rural areas, the number of joint collection points for agricultural waste was expanded from 8,035 in 2020 to 10,553 in 2024, and through the concentrated operation of agricultural waste crushing support teams, the appropriate collection and disposal amount of agricultural waste* is continuously being increased. 

* Agricultural waste collection amount (tons/year): (2020) 204,195 → (2022) 207,415 → (2024) 216,588

Meanwhile, one of the external factors, the concentration of fine dust in China, is also on a continuous decline. The concentration of fine dust in the northeastern region of China (Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei) and surrounding areas, which are adjacent to Korea, was 42.2 μg/m³ in 2024, showing an improvement of 45.2% (from 77 to 42.2 μg/m³) compared to 2015. This is the lowest figure since 2015, and the Yangtze River Delta region in China, including Shanghai, also saw a reduction of 37.7% (from 53 to 33 μg/m³), recording the third-lowest figure since 2015.

* The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and surrounding areas comprise 28 key cities, including Beijing, while the Yangtze River Delta includes 41 cities, including Shanghai. As of January 2024, the number of cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and surrounding areas has been adjusted to 38, and the Yangtze River Delta to 31. 

** Subject to change by official announcement from China (Source: Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China) 

The weather conditions in 2024 were similar to those in 2023 in terms of average temperature, humidity, and wind speed, but the increase in the number of rainy days and the decrease in stagnant air days are believed to have influenced the reduction in fine dust concentration. 

Furthermore, when looking at the monthly fine dust concentrations, February, which saw a significant decrease in fine dust levels compared to the previous year, benefited from the cleansing effect of precipitation and changes in external inflow conditions due to an increase in easterly winds (by 9.1%) and a decrease in westerly wind frequency (-9%). In March, the reduction in the frequency of calm conditions (wind speed below 0.5 m/s) likely contributed to improved atmospheric dispersion, positively impacting fine dust concentrations.

However, high concentrations of fine dust can occur at any time due to external influences and weather conditions, making active fine dust reduction measures necessary for stable air quality. In response, the Ministry of Environment is implementing the 6th Seasonal Management (from December 2024 to March 2025), which includes strengthened reduction measures compared to regular times, especially during the winter and spring months when fine dust concentrations are high due to seasonal factors. For reference, during the 6th Seasonal Management period (from December 2024 to January 2025), the average concentration of fine dust is 20 μg/m³, which is a 33.8% reduction compared to the period before the implementation of the Seasonal Management (December 2018 to January 2019, 30.2 μg/m³), and 1.8 μg/m³ lower than the same period last year (21.8 μg/m³).

Minister Kim Wansup stated, “Visible results are being achieved in the improvement of fine dust concentrations through concentrated reduction policies targeting key emission sources such as industry, transportation, and daily life.” He added, “We will ensure the smooth implementation of the current fine dust seasonal management and do our utmost to protect public health from fine dust.”