[Photo] How much of S. Korea’s fine-particle pollution comes from China?

Most South Koreans consider it a given that the majority of the country’s fine—particle pollution is swept over from China. On Mar. 1, the South Korea Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Institute of Environmental Research, and the Ministry of Environment have concluded that China contributes around 30 to 50 percent of smog and fine-particle pollution on an average day and around 60 to 80 percent on a severe day.

The website AirVisual, which tracks pollution airflows around the world, offers a visual confirmation of pollution from China sweeping over to the Korean Peninsula on westerly winds.

A website operated by the Meteorological Society of Japan revealed similar wind pollution patterns. South Korea recently experienced a severe air pollution warning for five consecutive days for the first time.