Yellow Dust?
Air quality in Korea has become a hot topic of discussion in recent years. While living in Seoul, I began to notice people wearing masks outdoors during the spring months and digital signs across the city giving live updates on the amount of fine dust in the air. Naturally, I wanted to learn more about how the fine dust would affect my day life and understand the true state of Korea’s air quality. In this blog post, I will outline some of the factors influencing air quality in Korea and practical measures that you can take to protect yourself and stay informed!
Main Factors
Certain seasons, especially spring and winter, have a rise in air pollution levels due to the air stream currents and the way they flow into Korea. March and April are usually the worst months where yellow dust from deserts in China and Mongolia moves into Korea, while the winter months of December and January can experience increased emissions from stagnant air. Given the fact that Seoul is a dense, urban city, there are also occasions where things like vehicle emissions and construction can contribute to air pollution as well.
Monitoring Air Quality
During the spring and winter seasons, I keep a monitoring app on my phone that gives me live updates about the air quality and lets me know what precautions I might need to take. The app is called MiseMise and I like it because I can easily check fine dust information aligned with strict WHO standards. The colors and emoticons they use also make it more convenient to understand the data.
Staying Safe
Once I check the updates on my app, I know what kind of countermeasures I need to take for the day to stay healthy. If the fine dust levels are over 100 parts per million, I will make sure to wear a mask if I am outside for extended periods of time. I usually use a N95 mask because they are resilient against the super fine particles. I will also keep all my apartment windows closed and turn on my air purifier to keep me and my cats comfortable and dust free. After the dust levels improve, I open all the windows and ventilate.
At Risk Groups
One of my best friends, Kacey, has asthma and was really concerned about moving to Korea because of everything she had read about the air quality. It is important to note that people who are immunocompromised or have respiratory issues may be more sensitive to the air quality in the peak months. Kaceys’ tips are to avoid any strenuous outdoor activities on days where there is poor air quality and to use a N95 mask. Her quality of life these past two years has been good overall and for her, moving to Korea was the right choice! Another tip I can offer is to invest in some anti-pollution skin care items in the spring months to control skin irritation and acne. I personally like MAMAEARTH daily face cream which I order from Amazon, but skin care stores like Innisfree and LOHB in Korea are full of options.
While air quality in Korea can present some challenges, I have found that taking proactive measures to keep healthy is totally manageable and is more like a minor inconvenience than a major health concern. If you stay informed on the dust levels and wear a mask, it should be smooth sailing!
Michelle Duquette, Marketing Assistant
Michelle Duquette is from Toronto, Canada and moved to South Korea in 2015. She has a Bachelors in English literature and a Masters in ESL Education. Michelle has taught at Creverse campuses in Gangneung, Songpa, and Mokdong and currently works as a CDI and April Trainer. Michelle never set out to be a teacher but fell in love with Korean culture and the excitement of being in the classroom. Michelle lives in Seoul with her partner and two cats, Cherry and Frost.