According to the “State of Global Air 2017,” a report by nonprofit environmental group Health Effects Institute in the United States, South Korea’s average population-weighted concentration level of PM2.5 － which refers to ultrafine particles or particle matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less － was 29 micrograms per cubic meter in 2015, above the average 15 micrograms for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries.

根據美國非營利環境團體「健康影響研究所」的「2017全球空氣狀況」報告，南韓2015年「PM2.5人口加權平均濃度」為每立方米29微克，高於OECD國家平均的15微克；PM2.5指直徑等於或小於2.5微米的超細懸浮微粒或懸浮粒子。

South Korea’s reading trailed only Turkey among the OECD. When compared to other Asian countries, the quality of air in Korea is more polluted than Japan and Singapore, which scored 13 micrograms and 19 micrograms, respectively. China recorded 58 micrograms.

在OECD成員國裡，南韓PM2.5讀數僅次於土耳其。相較於其他亞洲國家，南韓空氣品質比日本與新加坡差，日、星各為13、19微克，中國則達58微克。

While many have pointed to China as the main culprit, the South Korean government highlights emissions from diesel engine cars and business sites dealing with construction waste or using solid fuel.

雖然有許多人將空污矛頭指向中國，但南韓政府強調禍首是柴油引擎汽車，和處理營建廢棄物的經營場所或使用固體燃料所排放之廢氣。

The Environmental Ministry last June came up with fine dust countermeasures, including a weekly no-driving campaign and gradually cutting down on benefits given to diesel car owners, with an aim of improving the country’s air quality to levels equivalent to European countries in 10 years. However, the government’s plan did not gain wide support from the public.

南韓環境部去年6月提出減少粉塵對策，包括每週一次不開車運動，與逐步取消給予柴油汽車車主的優惠，目標在10年內將該國空氣品質改善至相當於歐洲國家水準。不過，政府方案並未獲得民眾廣泛支持。

Source article: http://iservice.ltn.com.tw/Service/english/english.php?engno=1079459&day=2017-02-19