SmogRank / Cleaner or dirtier / South Korea

South Korea: cleaner or dirtier, 2025

In South Korea, 140 cities have enough days in both years to compare 2025 with the same days of 2024: 88 got dirtier and 39 cleaner.

The 88 cities that got dirtier, biggest rise first

#	City	2024	2025	Change
1	SinhyeonGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea	52	60	+4.6 µg/m³+48%
2	HaenamJeollanam-do, South Korea	54	62	+4.4 µg/m³+42%
3	NangenJeollabuk-do, South Korea	56	63	+3.4 µg/m³+29%
4	SantyokuGangwon-do, South Korea	56	62	+3.0 µg/m³+25%
5	YeongamJeollanam-do, South Korea	52	58	+2.9 µg/m³+30%
6	SintansinDaejeon, South Korea	58	63	+2.8 µg/m³+22%
7	CheorwonGangwon-do, South Korea	60	65	+2.5 µg/m³+18%
8	GoseongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea	56	61	+2.3 µg/m³+19%
9	DaeguSouth Korea	57	61	+2.2 µg/m³+18%
10	OkcheonNorth Chungcheong, South Korea	58	62	+2.1 µg/m³+17%
11	NeietsuGangwon-do, South Korea	54	58	+2.1 µg/m³+20%
12	GumiGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	64	68	+2.1 µg/m³+13%
13	MiryangGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea	57	61	+2.0 µg/m³+16%
14	YangsanGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea	55	58	+1.9 µg/m³+17%
15	YangguGangwon-do, South Korea	50	54	+1.8 µg/m³+20%
16	Cheongsong gunGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	53	57	+1.8 µg/m³+17%
17	GeojeGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea	53	56	+1.7 µg/m³+17%
18	BoryeongChungcheongnam-do, South Korea	59	62	+1.6 µg/m³+12%
19	HwawŏnDaegu, South Korea	58	61	+1.6 µg/m³+12%
20	ImsilJeollabuk-do, South Korea	56	59	+1.6 µg/m³+14%
21	YŏnmuChungcheongnam-do, South Korea	62	65	+1.6 µg/m³+11%
22	UlsanSouth Korea	60	63	+1.5 µg/m³+11%
23	ChuncheonGangwon-do, South Korea	53	56	+1.5 µg/m³+14%
24	KinzanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea	61	64	+1.4 µg/m³+10%
25	YeonilGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	58	60	+1.3 µg/m³+10%
26	JeongeupJeollabuk-do, South Korea	62	64	+1.2 µg/m³+8%
27	BusanSouth Korea	58	60	+1.2 µg/m³+9%
28	BoseongJeollanam-do, South Korea	55	57	+1.2 µg/m³+11%
29	BeolgyoJeollanam-do, South Korea	52	54	+1.2 µg/m³+13%
30	HwadoGyeonggi-do, South Korea	63	66	+1.2 µg/m³+8%
31	DaejeonSouth Korea	57	59	+1.2 µg/m³+10%
32	KuryeJeollanam-do, South Korea	52	54	+1.2 µg/m³+13%
33	MuanJeollanam-do, South Korea	54	56	+1.1 µg/m³+10%
34	Ansan-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea	64	66	+1.1 µg/m³+7%
35	Uijeongbu-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea	61	63	+1.1 µg/m³+8%
36	MunsanGyeonggi-do, South Korea	59	61	+1.1 µg/m³+8%
37	MokpoJeollanam-do, South Korea	59	61	+1.1 µg/m³+8%
38	TongyeongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea	58	60	+1.1 µg/m³+9%
39	YeongdongNorth Chungcheong, South Korea	61	63	+1.0 µg/m³+7%
40	Taesal-liChungcheongnam-do, South Korea	56	58	+1.0 µg/m³+9%
41	KunwiGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	53	55	+1.0 µg/m³+10%
42	Cheongju-siNorth Chungcheong, South Korea	62	63	+0.9 µg/m³+6%
43	Gyeongsan-siGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	59	61	+0.9 µg/m³+7%
44	GwangyangJeollanam-do, South Korea	55	57	+0.9 µg/m³+8%
45	AsanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea	65	67	+0.9 µg/m³+5%
46	WŏnjuGangwon-do, South Korea	64	66	+0.9 µg/m³+6%
47	SuwonGyeonggi-do, South Korea	63	65	+0.9 µg/m³+6%
48	SejongSejong-si, South Korea	62	63	+0.9 µg/m³+6%
49	ChungjuNorth Chungcheong, South Korea	61	62	+0.9 µg/m³+6%
50	ChangsuJeollabuk-do, South Korea	57	59	+0.9 µg/m³+7%
51	OsanGyeonggi-do, South Korea	63	65	+0.8 µg/m³+5%
52	HongseongChungcheongnam-do, South Korea	63	65	+0.8 µg/m³+5%
53	Guri-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea	62	64	+0.7 µg/m³+5%
54	Seongnam-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea	58	60	+0.7 µg/m³+5%
55	YeosuJeollanam-do, South Korea	55	56	+0.7 µg/m³+6%
56	HwacheonGangwon-do, South Korea	52	53	+0.7 µg/m³+7%
57	AnseongGyeonggi-do, South Korea	60	61	+0.7 µg/m³+5%
58	MasanGwangju, South Korea	60	61	+0.7 µg/m³+5%
59	ChangwonGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea	58	59	+0.7 µg/m³+5%
60	HadongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea	55	56	+0.7 µg/m³+6%
61	YeongjuGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	64	65	+0.6 µg/m³+4%
62	MungyeongGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	57	58	+0.6 µg/m³+5%
63	GwangjuGyeonggi-do, South Korea	61	62	+0.6 µg/m³+4%
64	SeosanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea	58	59	+0.6 µg/m³+5%
65	ChinjuGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea	58	59	+0.6 µg/m³+5%
66	PyeongchangGangwon-do, South Korea	55	56	+0.6 µg/m³+5%
67	SeonghwanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea	71	72	+0.5 µg/m³+3%
68	KimjeJeollabuk-do, South Korea	65	66	+0.5 µg/m³+3%
69	WanjuJeollabuk-do, South Korea	62	63	+0.5 µg/m³+3%
70	EisenGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	60	61	+0.5 µg/m³+4%
71	Donghae CityGangwon-do, South Korea	59	60	+0.5 µg/m³+4%
72	YangjuGyeonggi-do, South Korea	57	58	+0.5 µg/m³+4%
73	KimhaeGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea	57	58	+0.5 µg/m³+4%
74	JungpyongNorth Chungcheong, South Korea	64	64	+0.4 µg/m³+3%
75	Bucheon-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea	63	64	+0.4 µg/m³+3%
76	NamyangjuGyeonggi-do, South Korea	60	61	+0.4 µg/m³+3%
77	JeonjuJeollabuk-do, South Korea	59	59	+0.4 µg/m³+3%
78	HayangGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	64	65	+0.3 µg/m³+2%
79	YecheonGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	59	60	+0.3 µg/m³+2%
80	JangheungJeollanam-do, South Korea	56	56	+0.3 µg/m³+3%
81	Jeju CityJeju-do, South Korea	58	58	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
82	YeonggwangJeollanam-do, South Korea	57	57	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
83	KwangyangJeollanam-do, South Korea	56	57	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
84	HwasunJeollanam-do, South Korea	55	55	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
85	PyeongtaekGyeonggi-do, South Korea	66	67	+0.1 µg/m³+1%
86	UngsangGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea	57	58	+0.1 µg/m³+1%
87	GyeongjuGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	56	56	+0.1 µg/m³+1%
88	KosongGangwon-do, South Korea	44	44	+0.1 µg/m³+1%

The 39 cities that got cleaner, biggest fall first

#	City	2024	2025	Change
1	SokchoGangwon-do, South Korea	62	54	−4.2 µg/m³−28%
2	YeojuGyeonggi-do, South Korea	70	64	−3.0 µg/m³−16%
3	YesanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea	70	66	−2.1 µg/m³−11%
4	GimcheonGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	64	61	−1.6 µg/m³−10%
5	Dodong-riGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	56	53	−1.5 µg/m³−13%
6	DamyangJeollanam-do, South Korea	60	57	−1.5 µg/m³−11%
7	Hongch’ŏnGangwon-do, South Korea	60	57	−1.5 µg/m³−11%
8	Chinch'ŏnNorth Chungcheong, South Korea	66	63	−1.5 µg/m³−9%
9	TangjinChungcheongnam-do, South Korea	69	67	−1.4 µg/m³−7%
10	WabuGyeonggi-do, South Korea	58	56	−1.1 µg/m³−9%
11	Koch'angJeollabuk-do, South Korea	58	56	−1.1 µg/m³−9%
12	Ponggae-dongJeju-do, South Korea	55	53	−1.0 µg/m³−9%
13	SangjuGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	63	61	−1.0 µg/m³−6%
14	Goyang-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea	66	64	−0.9 µg/m³−5%
15	HanamGyeonggi-do, South Korea	63	62	−0.8 µg/m³−5%
16	NamsaJeollabuk-do, South Korea	62	61	−0.8 µg/m³−5%
17	PohangGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	64	63	−0.8 µg/m³−5%
18	KoesanNorth Chungcheong, South Korea	63	62	−0.7 µg/m³−4%
19	Hwaseong-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea	67	66	−0.6 µg/m³−3%
20	IksanJeollabuk-do, South Korea	67	66	−0.6 µg/m³−3%
21	SeogwipoJeju-do, South Korea	55	54	−0.6 µg/m³−5%
22	JangseongJeollanam-do, South Korea	57	56	−0.6 µg/m³−5%
23	PubalGyeonggi-do, South Korea	68	67	−0.6 µg/m³−3%
24	AndongGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea	62	61	−0.5 µg/m³−3%
25	Yangp'yŏngGyeonggi-do, South Korea	62	61	−0.4 µg/m³−3%
26	SuncheonJeollanam-do, South Korea	56	55	−0.4 µg/m³−3%
27	Icheon-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea	67	66	−0.4 µg/m³−2%
28	Jinan-gunJeollabuk-do, South Korea	56	55	−0.3 µg/m³−3%
29	GwangmyeongGyeonggi-do, South Korea	65	64	−0.3 µg/m³−2%
30	IncheonSouth Korea	67	66	−0.3 µg/m³−2%
31	GaigeturiJeju-do, South Korea	56	55	−0.3 µg/m³−3%
32	GongjuChungcheongnam-do, South Korea	58	58	−0.3 µg/m³−2%
33	JumunjinGangwon-do, South Korea	54	54	−0.2 µg/m³−2%
34	NonsanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea	63	62	−0.2 µg/m³−1%
35	SeoulSouth Korea	64	64	−0.2 µg/m³−1%
36	BuanJeollabuk-do, South Korea	65	64	−0.2 µg/m³−1%
37	SinanJeollanam-do, South Korea	55	55	−0.1 µg/m³−1%
38	GangneungGangwon-do, South Korea	56	56	−0.1 µg/m³−1%
39	NajuJeollanam-do, South Korea	60	59	−0.1 µg/m³−1%

Means in US AQI over the days a city was measured in both years, the same calendar days each year; a city needs 55% of the days paired, and at least 30. The change is in µg/m³ and per cent. How we compare.

The US EPA's Air Quality Index for PM2.5 (2024 breakpoints). Show values as: µg/m³ · US AQI · India AQI · China AQI · European AQI · UK DAQI · Canada AQHI+. About the scales

Updated 2026-10-07 12:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors, as the US AQI PM2.5 sub-index.