Gyeonggi Province Regionalizes 'Ozone Alert System'

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 12th that it will regionalize ozone alert issuance into eight zones, expanding from city and county-level alerts.

The eight zones designated by the province are ▲Goyang Zone (Gimpo, Goyang, Paju) ▲Uijeongbu Zone (Uijeongbu, Pocheon) ▲Namyangju Zone (Namyangju, Guri) ▲Bucheon Zone (Bucheon, Gwangmyeong, Siheung, Ansan) ▲Seongnam Zone (Seongnam, Hanam) ▲Suwon Zone (Suwon, Pyeongtaek, Osan, Hwaseong) ▲Anyang Zone (Anyang, Gwacheon, Gunpo, Uiwang) ▲Yongin Zone (Yongin, Icheon), and others.

Additionally, the province decided to include eight cities and counties such as Anseong and Gapyeong, which were excluded from this regionalization effort due to the absence of urban air monitoring stations, within the zones by 2010.

The implementation period spans approximately five months from May 1 to September 24, when ozone concentrations are elevated. Alerts will be issued as follows: caution alert if hourly ozone concentration is 0.12ppm or higher, alert at 0.3ppm or higher, and serious alert at 0.5ppm or higher.

A provincial official stated, "So far, ozone alerts have been issued individually to each city and county, which has not reflected regional characteristics and has resulted in fragmented mitigation measures. Going forward, we will respond efficiently through organic cooperation between cities and counties."