S. Korea to enhance cooperation on fine dust with China and Japan: President Moon

문 대통령 “미세먼지 저감, 한중일 3국 공동 노력 확대할 것”

President Moon Jae-in says South Korea will continue to work with China and Japan to combat the region’s chronic fine dust pollution.
He also explained a set of measures to be implemented in winter… when fine dust concentrations are especially high, calling for legal support from parliament.
Our Park Hee-jun has more. A higher level of cooperation with neighboring countries to combat fine dust pollution.
President Moon Jae-in says a coordinated response to the problem has become possible,… after joint research between Korea, China and Japan showed that each country has contributed to the air pollution.
“The government will continue to work to draw joint efforts from neighboring countries, carrying out the cooperative tasks discussed by the environment ministers of the three countries [South Korea, China, Japan].”
President Moon held a luncheon on Tuesday with the National Council on Climate and Air Quality to discuss pan-national solutions to fine dust.
The council is a presidential committee in charge of tackling the fine dust problem,… chaired by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The president thanked the council for its ideas and support for the designation of September 7 as the ‘International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.’
Adopted by the United Nations last month,… it will help the international community to jointly seek solutions to air pollution.
He also asked for the committee’s continued support for the P4G summit on green growth hosted by Seoul next June,… so that it may serve as a platform for active discussions on climate change and air pollution.
On a more local level,… President Moon introduced a system to manage seasonal fine dust during a cabinet meeting the same day.
Effective between December and March the season with the highest concentrations of fine dust in Korea,… the measures include limiting the use of grade 5 emission vehicles, mostly diesel cars.
And at public agencies, the government will also ban cars with odd-numbered license plates from driving on even-numbered days,… and vice versa.
These measures will begin in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do Province,… before later being applied nationwide.
But all of this, he says, needs to be backed by parliament.
“Fine dust is an important problem regarding people’s health rights. Even if the central and local governments execute special measures, legal support is needed to settle the seasonal management system. I look forward to the swift revision of the special law on fine dust.”
And President Moon called on the public to actively participate.
The seasonal measures may bring some discomfort, but he emphasized that it’s to ensure the health of all Korean people.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.