**Expansion of Support to Five to Eighteen Locations**
On the 19th, the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment announced its decision to support 18 regions nationwide with poor air quality due to pollutant emissions for air quality improvement in 2026. The government will allocate 12 billion won from the central budget to support these eighteen locations, including West Busan Smart Valley (Busan), Seongseo Industrial Complex and Dalseong 1st Industrial Complex (Daegu), Hanam Industrial Complex (Gwangju), Daejeon Industrial Complex (Daejeon), Goyeong Industrial Region (Ulsan), Banwol-Sihwa National Industrial Complex and Cheongseon-Daejeon Industrial Complex (Gyeonggi), Hoengseong-gun and Inje-gun areas (Gangwon), Beophwa-ri, Yeongdong-gun and Danyang-ro, Danyang-gun areas (Chungbuk), Cheonan city area and Songsan 2 Industrial Complex (Chungnam), Jeongeup city area (Jeonbuk), Ponam Industrial Complex (Gyeongbuk), Sangpyeong Industrial Complex (Gyeongnam), and Geumnung Agricultural Industrial Complex (Jeju).
This initiative targets small-scale air pollutant emitting facilities close to residential areas, offering preemptive technical consultations, improvements to air pollution control facilities, and IoT monitoring systems, as well as post-monitoring, to control the entire pollution cycle. The goal is to enhance regional air quality and alleviate financial burdens for small and medium enterprises. Previously, five regions with pollution concerns were selected, but this year the scope has expanded to eighteen. The selection now includes areas with numerous complaints about asphalt concrete companies and lime/plaster manufacturing companies, in addition to regions already known for pollution concerns.
The Ministry will collaborate with local governments to investigate odor issues and air quality in the designated areas, diagnose causes of high pollution risks, and devise improvement plans. A real-time monitoring system will be established using IoT measuring devices, while outdated air pollution control facilities will be upgraded. Policy effects will be managed through before-and-after air quality analysis following the implementation.
According to the Ministry, an analysis of support effects from 2019 to 2024 for businesses in Incheon showed reductions of 57.7% in pollutant emissions and 21-23% in the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) in supported businesses. This project has been proven effective in improving air quality in the area. Moving forward, the Ministry plans to expand the support target from industrial complexes to business sites near residential areas.