Korea Environment Institute(KEI) reported that social costs of air pollutants such as SO2, NOx, CO and VOCs were estimated 32 to 60 trillion Won (45 trillion Won on average) as of 1999.

KEI calculated the costs based on social costs per each air pollutant(ton), which were estimated by United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and the volume of air pollutants measured by the Ministry of Environment.

The social costs of particulate matters (PM) were estimated about 6-18 trillion Won (12 trillion Won on average), NOx about 5-14 trillion Won (9 trillion Won on average), SO2 about 8-10 trillion Won (9 trillion Won on average), VOCs about 7-10 trillion (9 trillion Won on average), and CO about 6-8 trillion Won (7 trillion Won on average). These figures are about 6.6-12.5% (9.6% on average) of Gross National Income.

Various social costs caused by air pollution, such as productivity of labour, agriculture and fisheries, erosion of buildings and health problems were included to the calculation, but green house effects caused by CO2 emission were excluded. Thus, the social cost would exceed 32-60 trillion Won if green house effects were taken into account.

For more information, contact the Dr. Kwang-kyu, Kang from KEI at kwkang@kei.kr