Dust-Emitting Cars to Be Barred from Seoul on Smoggy Days

Cars with high emissions will soon be barred from the streets of the capital.

Out of 23 million cars registered, some 2.69 million are subject to the restriction as they have been classified as those generating the highest dust emissions, the Ministry of Environment said Thursday.

Starting in February next year, they will be banned from roads in Seoul, Incheon and other metropolitan areas when levels of fine dust particles are high.

The ministry said the amount of fine dust emitted by diesel cars in Seoul accounts for 22 percent of the total air pollution caused by cars. The measure is expected to reduce fine dust emissions by about 55.3 tons a day.