In order to address the seriousness of fine particulate matter, this report identified the current status of the government initiative Special Measures for Managing Fine Particulate Matter (3 Jun 2016) and suggested improvements required to achieve the goals of this policy.
  It was found that the Korean standard for fine particulate air quality has been  looser than those of other major countries. The air quality targets remain low, fine particulate matter monitering networks outside the metropolitan area are not tight enough, and efforts to build and manage databases such as the ‘integrated management system of national air quality,’ which may enhance the accuracy of fine particulate forecasts, are insufficient.
  The Special Measures for Managing Fine Particulate Matter in the transportation sector are unlikely to achieve the fine particulate matter target . Reducing outdated diesel vehicle carbon emission rates are not likely to be achieved, and even if these goals are reached, it is estimated that fine particulates () may not be reduced to the target level. In particular, it is analysed that eco-friendly vehicles have only minor effects on reducing fine particulate matter because they represent only a small part of the entire automobile market. Furthermore, the clean diesel policy may be in contradiction with the policy measures for managing fine particulate matter.
  The Special Measures for Managing Fine Particulate Matter in the power generation sector is unlikely to take effect in the near term since the oldest 10 power plants which are scheduled to be shut down are either located in the suburbs or will be operating until 2025, while the refurbish plans for the existing generators stretch until 2030.
  Therefore, the government will need to operate more monitoring networks in regions other than the metropolitan area, provide long-term support for eco-friendly vehicles and infrastructure development to address the post-2020 climate change regime and expand fiscal support for urgent tasks such as reducing outdated diesel vehicle carbon emission rates. Also, in the power generation sector, environment-priority principles need to be considered in power exchange, under which lower emission power plants operate first and higher emission plants operate later.