Government Approves ‘7th Seasonal Fine Dust Management Plan’
“Fine Dust Concentration Target Improvement from 20㎍/㎥ to 19㎍/㎥”
Newly Established Electric Vehicle Transition Subsidy Up to 4 Million Won Starting January Next Year
In response to the expected rise in fine dust particles this winter, the government plans to halt the operation of up to 17 coal power plants until March next year.
A new subsidy of up to 4 million won for transitioning from internal combustion vehicles to electric vehicles will be introduced starting January to enhance air quality management.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment reviewed and approved the “7th Seasonal Fine Dust Management Plan (December 2025 – March 2026)” during a special fine dust committee meeting led by the Prime Minister on the 25th at the government complex in Seoul.
The government designates the period from December to March as the seasonal fine dust management period, during which intensive management measures are implemented.
As a result of past efforts to reduce fine dust, the annual average concentration of fine dust particles has improved by approximately 38%, from 26㎍/㎥ in 2016 to 16㎍/㎥ last year.
However, concentrations can spike during winter and spring due to weather conditions. Climate Assistant Minister Geum Han-seung stated, “The average fine dust concentration this winter is projected to be about 50% higher than last year.”
To counter this, the government aims to improve this year’s fine dust concentration target from last year’s 20㎍/㎥ to 19㎍/㎥ and reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 8% to 45%.
Specifically, in the power sector, up to 17 out of 53 public coal power plants will be shut down, two more than last year’s target of 15. Additionally, a cap limiting output to 80% for up to 46 power plants will be implemented to reduce emissions.
In the industrial sector, 416 large facilities nationwide will enact additional reduction measures beyond previous management phases. Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), suspected illegal emitters will also be monitored and controlled.
For the public sector, emergency response levels will be upgraded from level 1 (interest) to level 2 (alert) when high concentrations of fine dust occur.
In transportation, restrictions on level 5 vehicle operations in the capital region and six major metropolitan areas will continue. To promote electric and hydrogen vehicles, climate department-affiliated agencies will launch pilot projects to designate exclusive parking spaces for electric and hydrogen vehicles.
Geum noted that expansion to private sectors will be considered based on the pilot project results.
Furthermore, an additional subsidy of up to 1 million won for switching to electric vehicles will be introduced in January, raising the total subsidy for electric vehicle purchases from 3 million to 4 million won. New loan programs for purchasing electric and hydrogen buses are also being developed.
The government plans to improve air quality in areas frequented by the public. Inspections will occur at facilities like daycare centers, elderly care, and schools where indoor air quality is crucial, and will tighten indoor air quality standards in large facilities like libraries by 20% (from 50㎍/㎥ to 40㎍/㎥).
In addition, the wearing of masks by outdoor workers in fields like construction, sanitation, and delivery will be subject to inspection.
To ensure effective implementation, a cross-government monitoring team led by the office of the Prime Minister will be established to regularly check the progress of each task.