Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ryanbrezzi]

Good question. just because they're trying to reduce the amount of vehicles doesn't mean they have succeeded. Still Seoul is a huge city with loads of vehicles, there's no avoiding pollution as there is. Just imagine, what we see in the air is also in our lungs...yikes.

[AtmaWeapon]

Nice thread, OP. I have been wondering this myself for a long time. Does anyone know of a website that shows the pollution levels in comparison with other major cities? I've been wondering with how it compares with LA or NYC.

[v88]

I haven't found any yet, but I have found the national average for particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometres is about twice that of the US, Canada and Australia (all about 20) and about 10 higher than Japan.

Considering Korea is one of the most heavily populated nations on earth (population to area) it's not all that surprising though. I'd say that it's not bad like most developing nations and is within the norms of most developed nations. That being said I would gather that it is among the most polluted developed nations. Seoul is one of the largest mega cities on earth and has emission standards lower than the States, Canada and Australia (which isn't great considering they get away with relatively bad standards because a lack of density, unlike Korea). Given the lower standard of emissions the heavier population density, I'd say the air in Seoul is pretty bad compared to other cities of the world but not disgustingly bad like Delhi or Shanghai. Let's say worse than LA and Tokyo but close behind and catching up due to better cars, improved public transportation and increased public awareness.

The winter months are also really bad because all the pollution just settles on the pavement and gets re-suspended.

In my opinion, Seoul would be a fantastic place to make real big changes. They have started with an improved bus system, they already have one of the best subways in the world, their car industry has started making hybrids, and they have introduced some electric vehicles as well have been credited with inventing embedded road rechargers which if employed throughout the city would revolutionize their transit system. What they really need to do, is push electric vehicles, improve on street cycling facilities, encourage motorcycles rather than discourage them, move towards a bus rapid transit system like Bogota, look into winter road washing programs and look at seriously greening the city...put plants everywhere, walls, sidewalks, roofs...plants are the world's best filters and re-radiators of heat.

[sojusucks]

Some cities have signs on the road that measures various pollutants and their quantity int he air. So I am sure that people are aware. I don't think they can do a whole lot though. Anyone have any ideas on what can be done without implementing whole new policies.

[Louis VI]

HOURLY AIR POLLUTION MONITORING: http://www.airkorea.or.kr/

The air is pretty clean from June to October as systems from the south hit the peninsula. But from November to May there are a lot of weather systems from mainland china with their plentiful coal fired factories and weather inversions trapping in additional pollutants, followed by the spring sandstorms compounding the effect.

Breathe well my friend. 'Tis the season for it.