The government announced recently that starting 2015, schools will be forced to shut down and traffic will be limited on roads during days when fine dust concentrations are high.

Fine dust, which can cause various respiratory diseases and undermine the body’s immune system when inhaled, has become an increasing problem in Korea this year. In an effort to help protect Korean citizens from the possible health issues caused by being exposed to such high-density air pollution, the government has agreed to introduce a nationwide fine dust alert system in January 2015.

“The government will do all it can do to protect the people and ease their inconvenience from fine dust,” Yoon Seong-kyu, the environment minister, said in a press release.

By Park So-eun (spark@heraldcorp.com)