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Four Signatories to the “Agreement on Improving Air Quality in Port Areas” Hold Joint Campaign to Improve Air Quality in Port Areas

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will hold a joint campaign to improve air quality in port areas at 2:00 p.m. today (December 15) at the Truck Rest Area (NaeTruck House Busan Yongdang Branch) located in Yongdang-dong, Nam-gu.

This campaign will be jointly hosted by four organizations—Busan Metropolitan City, the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, the Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Busan Port Authority—that are signatories to the “Agreement on Improving Air Quality in Port Areas and Surrounding Areas” signed on November 19.

The “Agreement on Improving Air Quality in Port Areas and Surrounding Areas” was concluded on November 19 under the leadership of the Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, with the participation of nine organizations* to manage and improve the air environment in port areas across Busan, Ulsan, and the Gyeongnam region. The agreement includes key measures such as reducing air pollutants from ships, expanding eco-friendly port infrastructure, operating vehicles to reduce resuspended road dust near ports, and implementing low-emission measures for old diesel vehicles.
* Busan, Ulsan, and Masan Regional Offices of Oceans and Fisheries; Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office; Busan Metropolitan City; Ulsan Metropolitan City; Busan Port Authority and Ulsan Port Authority; and the South Sea Regional Coast Guard

Through the campaign, Busan Metropolitan City plans to provide guidance on the “Restriction on the Operation of Grade 5 Emission Vehicles during the 7th Fine Dust Seasonal Management Period (December 2025–March 2026)” and to promote fine dust reduction measures, including support for installing diesel particulate filters on old diesel vehicles, early vehicle scrappage programs, and speed limits for vehicles operating within port areas.

The restriction on the operation of Grade 5 emission vehicles during the 7th Fine Dust Seasonal Management Period, which will run from December 2025 through March 2026, will be enforced on weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (excluding weekends and public holidays). A total of 43 enforcement cameras installed at 30 locations across the city will monitor the operation of Grade 5 emission vehicles. If a violation is detected, the vehicle owner will be subject to an administrative fine of KRW 100,000 per day.

In addition, Busan Metropolitan City will also promote its air quality brand, Clean Air air, which was developed this year, as part of efforts to publicize the image of Busan as a city with clean air.

The city plans to install banners promoting restrictions on the operation of Grade 5 emission vehicles featuring the Busan air quality brand and to distribute related informational materials. Participating organizations will also jointly conduct promotional activities using banners and promotional materials introducing fine dust reduction measures.

Lee Byeong-seok, Director General of the Environmental and Water Policy Office of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “The city’s annual average concentration of fine dust remains at the lowest level among the seven major metropolitan cities.” He added, “Given Busan’s geographical characteristics, air quality management in port areas accounts for a very important share of improving the overall air environment. We will therefore do our utmost to manage land-based pollution sources, including operating vehicles to reduce resuspended road dust in port areas and implementing low-emission measures for old diesel vehicles.”

He further emphasized, “We ask for the active cooperation of citizens in fine dust reduction measures, including restrictions on the operation of Grade 5 emission vehicles, during the 7th Seasonal Management Period.”