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🇰🇷 South Korea /Environment & Climate

South Korea Proposed Clean Air Day. What Will It Do About Coal and Gas Power?

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • South Korea’s annual average fine-dust concentration fell from 23 micrograms per cubic meter in 2019 to 16 in 2025, while days rated “good” increased and “bad” days declined.
  • Environmental groups say fossil-fuel power still accounts for more than half of generation and oppose replacing retiring coal plants with new liquefied natural gas plants.
  • The groups are calling for a review of gas-power expansion, a phased reduction plan and removal of LNG and LPG from the legal definition of “clean fuels.”

South Korea’s air has improved since the country proposed the annual Clean Air for Blue Skies Day, but environmental groups say the improvement does not resolve the country’s dependence on fossil-fuel power.

The average annual concentration of fine particulate matter fell from 23 micrograms per cubic meter in 2019 to 16 in 2025. Days rated “good” increased from 115 in 2019 to 206 in 2024, while “bad” days fell from 47 to 11. Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide concentrations also declined. Ozone, however, rose slightly, prompting concern about the next stage of air-pollution management.

The government declared a coal phaseout by 2040, but 14 years still remain until 2040. It has not even decided when or how to close the 21 coal plants that will still have years left on their operating lives then.

· Bae Seul-giThe environmental activist criticized the timetable and the lack of decisions on remaining coal plants.

Fossil-fuel generation accounted for 56.8% of South Korea’s power in 2024, down from 66.1% in 2019 but still above half. Bae Seul-gi of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement said the government had declared a coal phaseout by 2040, yet had not decided when or how to close 21 coal plants that would still have operating lives at that point.

The reductions in nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide have led to an increase in ozone. We will also pay attention to managing this in the future.

· Jang Ki-wonThe Korea Environment Institute researcher described a new air-pollution management challenge.

The government is replacing retiring coal plants with liquefied natural gas facilities. Of the 34 new gas projects under construction or planned as of July, with combined capacity of 22.1 gigawatts, 13.6 gigawatts, or 61.5%, would replace coal plants. The environmental group said emissions from those gas plants could reach 64.3 million tons annually, equivalent to 72.8% to 91.8% of the power-sector emissions range in South Korea’s 2035 target.

The group wants the government to halt and reconsider the coal-to-gas replacement plan, announce a phased reduction of gas power in the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, and remove LNG and LPG from the legal definition of clean fuels. Bae said a genuine transition requires replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, improving efficiency and reducing electricity demand.

To respond to air pollution and the climate crisis at the same time, fossil fuels must be phased out.

· Bae Seul-giBae called for renewable energy, higher efficiency and lower electricity demand.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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