Gov't Vows to Reduce Air Pollution by 40%

The government hopes to reduce air pollution by 40 percent over the next five years with measures to limit pollutants from industrial sites and cars in Seoul and other major cities.

Some measures to improve air quality have already been implemented in Seoul and the metropolitan area since 2005, and they will be extended to the whole country over the next 15 years.

The Environment Ministry on Wednesday published a draft bill and said it will take effect from April next year after a 40-day notification period.

According to the draft, permissible emission levels will be controlled in 77 cities and counties accounting for more than 80 percent of Korea's fine dust pollution, and they will gradually be reduced by up to 40 percent by 2024.