Air quality near the Yeongpung Seokpo Smelter is the highest... the fruits of large-scale environmental investment

*This content was translated by AI.

Air quality in the area around the Yeongpung Seokpo Smelter is maintaining the highest level of cleanliness in Korea thanks to large-scale environmental investment. The level of air pollutants in the Seokpo-myeon area is significantly below the legal standard and is on par with major air quality areas in Korea, and it is interpreted that the operation of the Seokpo smelter has little effect on the surrounding air environment.

According to data from Air Korea, a real-time air environment information network operated by the Korea Environment Corporation, major air quality indicators at the Seokpo-myeon office, located within a 1-kilometer radius of the Seokpo smelter, remained far below the legal standard.

According to Air Korea's daily average measurement data on the 24th, the levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur oxide (SOx), and dust (PM-10) in Seokpo-myeon were 0.0060ppm, 0.0049ppm, and 21㎍/㎥, respectively, far below the legal standard (NOx 0.06ppm, SOx 0.05ppm, and dust 100㎍/㎥).

Air Korea is a site where the Korea Environment Corporation has been disclosing data measured in 666 urban air monitoring networks, national background concentration monitoring networks, suburban air monitoring networks, roadside monitoring networks, and port atmosphere monitoring networks in real time since 2005, and provides the most reliable information in Korea regarding air quality.

The air quality of Seokpo-myeon was found to be superior in general compared to areas with excellent air quality as well as areas with high concentrations of major industrial complexes across the country.

Based on the latest confirmed data, December 2025 (quarter 4), Seokpo-myeon remained lower than Ansan compared to major industrial complex concentrated areas nationwide, and PM10 was lower than Dangjin. SOx is also stably managed within a sufficient margin compared to environmental standards for the entire period.

Compared to the region with the highest air quality in the country, NOx was found to be similar to Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, which has the lowest level in the country. SOx has been on the decline and stabilization trend since 2024, continuing its management performance. PM10 recorded a similar range to Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, which is rated as the lowest in the country.

The key reasons for this improvement in air quality are compliance with strengthened self-emission standards and preemptive investment in environmental facilities. The Seokpo Smelter obtained an integrated environmental permit from the Ministry of Environment in 2022 and is operating with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emission standards set at a level that is 50% stronger than the government standard.

To implement this, the smelter has accelerated large-scale environmental investment. Oxygen plants and ozone facilities were newly established to pre-process exhaust gas purification and reduce air pollutants, and sub-cremation and low-light radiation facilities were supplemented to block the generation of scattering dust. In addition, the raw material conveyor and vehicle travel routes were sealed to minimize pollutants that could escape during the operation process.

It has also strengthened its monitoring system for transparent information disclosure. An automatic chimney measuring device (TMS) is installed in eight major chimneys to transmit pollutant emission status to the Korea Environment Corporation in real time, and its own air monitoring stations are operated in five locations outside the factory to operate a 24-hour monitoring system. In addition, the measurement figures were released in real time through an electronic board in front of the Seokpo-myeon office so that any local resident could check the atmospheric condition.

An official from Youngpoong said, "We are managing the air quality around the smelter to the highest level in Korea through continuous investment in environmental facilities and process improvement," adding, "We will continue to build an eco-friendly workplace that the local community can trust through thorough monitoring and preemptive pollution prevention measures."

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*This content was translated by AI.