Seoul moves to reduce fine dust in subway stations

Social Affairs

Published: 10 Jan. 2024, 18:40 Updated: 10 Jan. 2024, 22:53

Seoul moves to reduce fine dust in subway stations

Seoul Metro employees clean a tunnel near City Hall Station along subway line No. 1 in downtown Seoul on April 1, 2023. [SEOUL METRO]

Seoul’s subway operator unveiled its comprehensive plan on Wednesday to significantly reduce fine dust concentrations at subway stations in the capital.

According to Seoul Metro, exhaust ventilation systems will be installed at more subway platforms this year.

Ten ventilation systems were installed at Jongno 5-ga Station in downtown Seoul last year, and they will be gradually expanded to 34 subway platforms by 2026. The subway operator plans to prioritize implementation along subway line No. 1, where space restrictions make replacing air ventilation systems challenging.

Seoul Metro anticipates that over 20 percent of ultrafine dust concentration will improve at platforms equipped with such systems.

The subway operator aims to invest 300 billion won ($227 million) over the next three years to reduce the average ultrafine dust level at platforms from 38.8 micrograms per cubic meter to 32 micrograms per cubic meter by 2026. This is expected to improve indoor air quality and maintain a “moderate” level, the third-highest of the four-tier system, or higher across every subway station.

An exhaust ventilation system at a subway platform in Seoul [SEOUL METRO]

All 275 stations along subway lines No. 1 to 8 have experienced a dust concentration drop of around 35 percent and maintained a level below the legal standard — 50 micrograms per cubic meter — set for such facilities. However, the operator said improvements are deemed necessary due to outdated facilities.

Crushed rocks on railroads along subway lines No. 1 to 4 will be replaced with concrete, as they contribute to dust whenever subway trains pass. According to Seoul Metro, around 46 percent of the railroads have crushed rocks, and the replacement is expected to reduce fine dust concentrations in the area by around 28 percent.

A dust-control mat installed at Suyu Station, Gangbuk District, in nothern Seoul [SEOUL METRO]

Dust control “mats” will be placed on the floor before turnstiles at subway stations to minimize dust entering the area. These mats will be initially installed at stations with recreational facilities or mountains nearby. Seoul Metro said it confirmed the mat's effectiveness after a test at Suyu Station along line No. 4 reduced fine dust concentration by over 5 percent from 2020 to 2021.

Robots will be employed to clean ventilation systems at subway stations, and the capital’s subway operator will clean air passageways above the ceiling every five years, more frequently than the current ten-year interval.

“The latest measure is meaningful in that it marks the first comprehensive plan that covers subway tunnels and platforms,” said Seoul Metro CEO Baek Ho, adding that the operator will exert all efforts to improve air quality, making subway services and facilities a reliable transportation option for everyone.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]