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Mayor Park Heong-joon: “Strong Response to Illegal Air Pollutant Emissions”… 26 Illegal Emission Businesses Detected

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it detected 26 violating businesses following a targeted investigation into air pollution violations conducted over three months from last December, linked with the seasonal fine dust management system, at 130 air pollutant emission sources.

The city’s Special Judicial Police focused inspections on air pollutant-emitting businesses and construction sites that generate large amounts of fugitive dust during the air quality-vulnerable period from December to February, in connection with the seasonal fine dust management system. The investigation was conducted to secure citizens’ health rights and create a comfortable living environment by preventing air pollution.

A total of 26 businesses were detected: 10 cases of failing to install dust-proof covers on stockpiled materials, 10 cases of transport vehicles not undergoing wheel-washing, 1 case of no water-spraying facility installed in quarrying or extraction processes, 1 case of failing to report a fugitive dust-generating business, and 4 cases of failing to conduct self-monitoring of air pollutants.

Major cases include the following. Company A carried out ground preparation work by bringing in soil to stabilize a site and stockpiled soil—an fugitive dust-generating material—for an extended period without implementing suppression measures such as dust-proof covers. Company B conducted civil engineering work in a sparsely populated area on the outskirts of the city and allowed transport vehicles to operate without wheel-washing, generating large amounts of fugitive dust on nearby roads. In addition, four businesses operating air pollutant emission facilities, including Company C, failed to regularly conduct self-monitoring of pollutants emitted from their facilities to confirm the proper operation of pollution prevention equipment.

In particular, the construction sites on the outskirts of the city detected in this investigation were found to have exploited the absence of nearby residential facilities to commit illegal acts that released large amounts of fugitive dust.

Under the Clean Air Conservation Act, construction sites must implement fugitive dust suppression measures, including installing dust barriers, covering stockpiled materials with dust-proof covers, and ensuring wheel-washing for transport vehicles.

The city plans to focus inspections on construction sites in areas with few residential facilities, similar to the cases identified in this investigation.

In addition, Busan Metropolitan City plans to refer all 26 detected businesses to the prosecution and notify the relevant authorities for administrative action.

Meanwhile, under the Clean Air Conservation Act, failing to report a fugitive dust-generating business or failing to implement suppression measures is punishable by a fine of up to 3 million won, while failing to conduct self-monitoring of air pollutants is punishable by up to five years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 50 million won.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “Illegal emissions of air pollutants that threaten citizens’ health and damage the air environment are serious crimes that cannot be tolerated,” adding, “We will continue to strengthen inspections and investigations of construction sites that generate large amounts of fugitive dust and businesses that emit air pollutants.”

He added, “Busan Metropolitan City will continue to respond strongly and strictly to illegal emission activities in order to create a clean air environment where citizens can breathe with confidence.”