Toxic Haze from China Descends on Korea

A thick blanket of toxic haze from China descended on most parts of Korea on New Year's Day.

Fine dust concentration was forecast to remain bad all day Monday in the Seoul metropolitan area and Chungcheong, Gangwon, North Gyeongsang and North Jeolla provinces, according to the National Institute of Environmental Research.

A red alert for smog has been issued in the Beijing metropolitan region and Hebei Province.

Here, fine dust levels will fall slightly on Tuesday and the air will return to normal throughout the country on Wednesday as the wind changes direction.

The institute advised people to stay indoors, especially if they suffer from cough or sore throat.