SmogRank / Episodes / South Korea
South Korea, 16 to 17 October 2024
For 2 days, from 16 to 17 October 2024, 17 cities in South Korea had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea: 34.6 µg/m³ on 16 October, about 3.0× its usual 11.4.
No cause named We have no fire or smoke records for these days, so we only say what the measurements show.
Cities reached 17 in 1 country
Days 2 16 to 17 October 2024
Worst day 16 October 16 cities counted
Furthest above usual 3.1× Ansan-si
Day by day
Play 16 October 16 cities at twice their usual or more
Gongju Cheonan Sejong Buyeo Hongseong Seonghwan Nonsan Pyeongtaek Daejeon Boryeong Yŏnmu Cheongju-si Anseong Chinch'ŏn Osan Seosan Jungpyong Okcheon Namsa Taesal-li Kinzan Suwon Jeonju Kimje Icheon-si Koesan Seongnam-si Gwangju Yeongdong Buan Jinan-gun Yeoju Hanam Seoul Jeongeup Chungju Imsil Guri-si Wabu Yangp'yŏng Namyangju Changsu Hwado Uijeongbu-si Sangju Mungyeong Wŏnju Gimcheon Nangen Yangju Damyang Munsan Jangseong Gapyeong Yeonggwang Hongch’ŏn Gumi Gwangju Kurye Yecheon Masan Chuncheon Waegwan Hwasun Naju Neietsu Kunwi Cheorwon Yeongju Hwacheon Muan Hwawŏn Hadong Suncheon Kwangyang Andong Daegu Chinju Beolgyo Gwangyang Yanggu Yeongam Boseong Changnyeong Mokpo Gyeongsan-si Jangheung Hayang Yeosu Sinan Naesŏ Eisen Haenam Cheongsong gun Miryang T’aebaek Goseong Changwon Gangneung Jumunjin Tongyeong Sokcho Donghae City Kosong Kimhae Santyoku Gyeongju Sinhyeon Yangsan Yeonil Pohang Geoje Ungsang Busan Ulsan Gijang Tsushima Nagato Mine Hagi Yamaguchi Pubal Gwangmyeong Gimpo-si Anyang-si Wanju Ganghwa-gun Yesan Tangjin Goyang-si Gunsan Iksan Asan Bucheon-si Incheon Koch'ang Hwaseong-si Ansan-si 13 Oct 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Every measured city in the area, coloured by its PM2.5 that day; a dark ring marks a city at twice its usual or more. Bars: cities counted each day, coloured by their median level. Choose a day or press play; without JavaScript, the days link to that day's world ranking.
How it spread
Hwaseong-si Hwaseong-si, 13 October: 22.4 µg/m³ Hwaseong-si, 14 October: 11.2 µg/m³ Hwaseong-si, 15 October: 14.6 µg/m³ Hwaseong-si, 16 October: 34.6 µg/m³, 3.0× its usual 11.4 Hwaseong-si, 17 October: 31.2 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 11.4 Hwaseong-si, 18 October: 12.4 µg/m³ Hwaseong-si, 19 October: 9.0 µg/m³ Hwaseong-si, 20 October: 3.7 µg/m³ Ansan-si Ansan-si, 13 October: 17.7 µg/m³ Ansan-si, 14 October: 8.9 µg/m³ Ansan-si, 15 October: 14.7 µg/m³ Ansan-si, 16 October: 34.3 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 11.1 Ansan-si, 17 October: 27.3 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 11.1 Ansan-si, 18 October: 10.6 µg/m³ Ansan-si, 19 October: 5.2 µg/m³ Ansan-si, 20 October: 3.1 µg/m³ Incheon Incheon, 13 October: 19.8 µg/m³ Incheon, 14 October: 10.3 µg/m³ Incheon, 15 October: 15.6 µg/m³ Incheon, 16 October: 34.1 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 13.3 Incheon, 17 October: 29.1 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 13.3 Incheon, 18 October: 12.4 µg/m³ Incheon, 19 October: 7.5 µg/m³ Incheon, 20 October: 4.4 µg/m³ Tangjin Tangjin, 13 October: 21.5 µg/m³ Tangjin, 14 October: 12.8 µg/m³ Tangjin, 15 October: 14.7 µg/m³ Tangjin, 16 October: 33.3 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 14.0 Tangjin, 17 October: 27.9 µg/m³ Tangjin, 18 October: 12.8 µg/m³ Tangjin, 19 October: 12.9 µg/m³ Tangjin, 20 October: 3.7 µg/m³ Yesan Yesan, 13 October: 20.0 µg/m³ Yesan, 14 October: 15.6 µg/m³ Yesan, 15 October: 9.2 µg/m³ Yesan, 16 October: 31.9 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 13.3 Yesan, 17 October: 18.9 µg/m³ Yesan, 18 October: 16.4 µg/m³ Yesan, 19 October: 10.6 µg/m³ Yesan, 20 October: 4.0 µg/m³ Pubal Pubal, 13 October: 27.5 µg/m³ Pubal, 14 October: 18.1 µg/m³ Pubal, 15 October: 12.8 µg/m³ Pubal, 16 October: 31.3 µg/m³, 2.1× its usual 14.7 Pubal, 17 October: 20.6 µg/m³ Pubal, 18 October: 14.7 µg/m³ Pubal, 19 October: 3.3 µg/m³ Pubal, 20 October: 5.9 µg/m³ Bucheon-si Bucheon-si, 13 October: 17.5 µg/m³ Bucheon-si, 14 October: 9.1 µg/m³ Bucheon-si, 15 October: 13.7 µg/m³ Bucheon-si, 16 October: 30.8 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 11.7 Bucheon-si, 17 October: 25.6 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 11.8 Bucheon-si, 18 October: 10.9 µg/m³ Bucheon-si, 19 October: 4.2 µg/m³ Bucheon-si, 20 October: 2.9 µg/m³ Asan Asan, 13 October: 18.4 µg/m³ Asan, 14 October: 6.8 µg/m³ Asan, 15 October: 5.8 µg/m³ Asan, 16 October: 30.7 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 12.3 Asan, 17 October: 21.8 µg/m³ Asan, 18 October: 8.4 µg/m³ Asan, 19 October: 5.9 µg/m³ Asan, 20 October: 3.0 µg/m³ Gimpo-si Gimpo-si, 13 October: 21.1 µg/m³ Gimpo-si, 14 October: 12.0 µg/m³ Gimpo-si, 15 October: 18.8 µg/m³ Gimpo-si, 16 October: 30.3 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 12.9 Gimpo-si, 17 October: 29.4 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 13.3 Gimpo-si, 18 October: 19.3 µg/m³ Gimpo-si, 19 October: 9.2 µg/m³ Gimpo-si, 20 October: 5.6 µg/m³ Iksan Iksan, 13 October: 31.8 µg/m³ Iksan, 14 October: 18.3 µg/m³ Iksan, 15 October: 14.6 µg/m³ Iksan, 16 October: 29.8 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 12.1 Iksan, 17 October: 28.8 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 12.3 Iksan, 18 October: 16.2 µg/m³ Iksan, 19 October: 11.8 µg/m³ Iksan, 20 October: 6.5 µg/m³ Wanju Wanju, 13 October: 21.3 µg/m³ Wanju, 14 October: 13.7 µg/m³ Wanju, 15 October: 15.5 µg/m³ Wanju, 16 October: 29.6 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 12.5 Wanju, 17 October: 20.4 µg/m³ Wanju, 18 October: 12.5 µg/m³ Wanju, 19 October: 11.0 µg/m³ Wanju, 20 October: 4.3 µg/m³ Gunsan Gunsan, 13 October: 26.6 µg/m³ Gunsan, 14 October: 14.9 µg/m³ Gunsan, 15 October: 9.6 µg/m³ Gunsan, 16 October: 29.5 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 11.9 Gunsan, 17 October: 27.0 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 12.2 Gunsan, 18 October: 12.7 µg/m³ Gunsan, 19 October: 10.1 µg/m³ Gunsan, 20 October: 5.1 µg/m³ Goyang-si Goyang-si, 13 October: 19.0 µg/m³ Goyang-si, 14 October: 11.5 µg/m³ Goyang-si, 15 October: 16.3 µg/m³ Goyang-si, 16 October: 28.0 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 11.6 Goyang-si, 17 October: 29.2 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 11.7 Goyang-si, 18 October: 15.3 µg/m³ Goyang-si, 19 October: 6.1 µg/m³ Goyang-si, 20 October: 3.3 µg/m³ Koch'ang Koch'ang, 13 October: no reading Koch'ang, 14 October: 13.0 µg/m³ Koch'ang, 15 October: 11.4 µg/m³ Koch'ang, 16 October: 27.2 µg/m³, 2.8× its usual 9.6 Koch'ang, 17 October: 19.8 µg/m³ Koch'ang, 18 October: 11.8 µg/m³ Koch'ang, 19 October: 12.7 µg/m³ Koch'ang, 20 October: 3.9 µg/m³ Anyang-si Anyang-si, 13 October: 17.9 µg/m³ Anyang-si, 14 October: 8.9 µg/m³ Anyang-si, 15 October: 14.2 µg/m³ Anyang-si, 16 October: 25.7 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 10.9 Anyang-si, 17 October: 23.1 µg/m³ Anyang-si, 18 October: 11.0 µg/m³ Anyang-si, 19 October: 4.4 µg/m³ Anyang-si, 20 October: 4.3 µg/m³ Gwangmyeong Gwangmyeong, 13 October: 19.4 µg/m³ Gwangmyeong, 14 October: 10.3 µg/m³ Gwangmyeong, 15 October: 13.1 µg/m³ Gwangmyeong, 16 October: 25.2 µg/m³, 2.2× its usual 11.4 Gwangmyeong, 17 October: 22.0 µg/m³ Gwangmyeong, 18 October: 11.6 µg/m³ Gwangmyeong, 19 October: 4.3 µg/m³ Gwangmyeong, 20 October: 4.1 µg/m³ Ganghwa-gun Ganghwa-gun, 13 October: 20.9 µg/m³ Ganghwa-gun, 14 October: 16.3 µg/m³ Ganghwa-gun, 15 October: 19.3 µg/m³ Ganghwa-gun, 16 October: 24.0 µg/m³ Ganghwa-gun, 17 October: 29.7 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 12.5 Ganghwa-gun, 18 October: 19.6 µg/m³ Ganghwa-gun, 19 October: 10.2 µg/m³ Ganghwa-gun, 20 October: 5.8 µg/m³ 13 Oct 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Every counted city, in the order the episode reached them, 3 days before to 3 after. Each square is a day, coloured by that day's PM2.5; outlined: at twice the city's usual or more. Good 0–50
Moderate 51–100
Sensitive groups 101–150
Unhealthy 151–200
Very unhealthy 201–300
Hazardous 301+
Every city it reached
City Days Highest Usual Above usual
Ansan-si Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 2 16 October 11.1 3.1× Hwaseong-si Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 2 16 October 11.4 3.0× Koch'ang Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 16 October 9.6 2.8× Incheon Incheon, South Korea 2 16 October 13.3 2.6× Bucheon-si Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 2 16 October 11.7 2.6× Asan Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 16 October 12.3 2.5× Iksan Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 2 16 October 12.1 2.5× Gunsan Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 2 16 October 11.9 2.5× Goyang-si Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 2 17 October 11.7 2.5× Tangjin Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 16 October 14.0 2.4× Yesan Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 16 October 13.3 2.4× Ganghwa-gun Incheon, South Korea 1 17 October 12.5 2.4× Wanju Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 16 October 12.5 2.4× Anyang-si Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 1 16 October 10.9 2.4× Gimpo-si Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 2 16 October 12.9 2.3× Gwangmyeong Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 1 16 October 11.4 2.2× Pubal Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 1 16 October 14.7 2.1×
Daily means in µg/m³, over the days each city counted in this episode. Highest: its highest of those days. Usual: the city's median for the time of year of that day (its days within 21 days of the date, every year, leaving out the week around it). Above usual: its highest day against that, with a usual under 5 µg/m³ taken as 5.
Against other episodes in South Korea
Number 50 of 63 episodes in South Korea since our records began, by cities reached.
Japan and South Korea, March 2025 454 Japan and South Korea, March 2026 305 Japan and South Korea, January 2025 274 Japan and South Korea, February and March 2025 192 South Korea and Japan, January 2026 169 South Korea and Japan, 10 to 15 February 2026 147 South Korea, 14 to 16 February 2025 132 South Korea and Japan, November 2025 128 South Korea, February 2026 121 South Korea, 7 December 2025 113 South Korea, 13 to 14 January 2025 113 South Korea, 16 to 20 December 2025 107 South Korea, 16 to 17 October 2024 17 Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 63 .
Use this page SmogRank, South Korea, 16 to 17 October 2024: 17 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 16 to 17 October 2024, smogrank.com/episodes/2024-10-16-south-korea (accessed 4 October 2026).
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You're welcome to reuse a single chart, image or figure with this citation and a link. Terms .
An episode is a run of days when many cities close to each other (four or more within 350 km on a day, 8 or more in all) each had a daily PM2.5 mean of at least 25 µg/m³ and at least 2 times their usual for that time of year. Found in our own measurements, not picked by hand. How we find episodes . Values are each city's daily mean of its own monitors; causes are the usual kinds for a pattern like this, not a confirmed source.
