Seoul and Beijing sued over bad air

South Koreans on Wednesday sued the governments of Seoul and Beijing, seeking compensation over mental distress they suffered due to fine dust, the plaintiffs said.

Choi Yul, Korea’s environmentalism pioneer and president of the Korea Green Foundation, and attorney Ahn Kyung-jae filed the case with the Seoul Central District Court, seeking 3 million won ($2,600) in compensation each. Five others also took part in the suit with the two plaintiffs as their representatives.

South Korea has been grappling with worsening air quality every year, as clouds of fine dust particles, believed to mainly come from the western deserts of China and domestic smog, cover the sky with yellow haze. The particulates are known to cause various respiratory problems while also affecting the body’s immune system. Ahn was diagnosed with asthma Tuesday, they said in the complaint, claiming he had good lung capacity until then.

Yonhap