Policy Improvement Strategies for High Ozone Concentration Management in South Korea
- Author Han, Jihyun
- Researchers Choi, Ki-Chul;Jung, Jiyeong;Lee, Hyunji;Seo, Jeongbyn;Shim, Changsub;Yeo, Min Ju
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Date
2024-04-30
Ⅰ. Background and Aims of Research
o Background and necessity of the research
ㅇ Tropospheric ozone is one of the main air pollutants, along with fine dust.
- While stratospheric ozone acts as a protective shield blocking ultraviolet rays, tropospheric ozone is a short-lived climate pollutant affecting global warming and is harmful to human health and ecosystems at high concentrations.
- Ozone is secondarily formed through photochemical reactions of gases like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are primarily emitted, with its overproduction particularly in urban areas rich in NOx and VOCs.
ㅇ South Korea’s ozone concentration has been continuously increasing, but research and related policies are insufficient.
- Since the 1990s, the ozone concentration in South Korea has steadily increased. In 2019, when adjusted for population weight, South Korea reported the ninth-highest ozone concentration globally, surpassing that of any other OECD member country, indicating the urgent need for ozone management.
- However, compared to other major countries globally, South Korea’s research on ozone is relatively minimal, even less so when compared to fine dust.
- Recently, the Ministry of Environment acknowledged the severity of ozone pollution and presented ozone improvement goals in the Third Comprehensive Air Quality Improvement Plan (2023 o 2032), but the related measures are insufficient.
o Purpose of the research
ㅇThis study aims to grasp the current status of domestic ozone concentration and present directions for ozone management policies and improve
o Background and necessity of the research
ㅇ Tropospheric ozone is one of the main air pollutants, along with fine dust.
- While stratospheric ozone acts as a protective shield blocking ultraviolet rays, tropospheric ozone is a short-lived climate pollutant affecting global warming and is harmful to human health and ecosystems at high concentrations.
- Ozone is secondarily formed through photochemical reactions of gases like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are primarily emitted, with its overproduction particularly in urban areas rich in NOx and VOCs.
ㅇ South Korea’s ozone concentration has been continuously increasing, but research and related policies are insufficient.
- Since the 1990s, the ozone concentration in South Korea has steadily increased. In 2019, when adjusted for population weight, South Korea reported the ninth-highest ozone concentration globally, surpassing that of any other OECD member country, indicating the urgent need for ozone management.
- However, compared to other major countries globally, South Korea’s research on ozone is relatively minimal, even less so when compared to fine dust.
- Recently, the Ministry of Environment acknowledged the severity of ozone pollution and presented ozone improvement goals in the Third Comprehensive Air Quality Improvement Plan (2023 o 2032), but the related measures are insufficient.
o Purpose of the research
ㅇThis study aims to grasp the current status of domestic ozone concentration and present directions for ozone management policies and improve