SmogRank / Episodes / South Korea
South Korea, December 2025
For 5 days, from 16 to 20 December 2025, 107 cities in South Korea had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Hayang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea: 53.8 µg/m³ on 20 December, about 3.9× its usual 13.9.
Day by day
How it spread
Every city it reached
| City | Days | Highest | Above usual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taesal-liChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 1 | 35.917 December | 4.3× |
| HayangGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 5 | 53.820 December | 3.9× |
| EisenGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 5 | 43.820 December | 3.7× |
| DaeguDaegu, South Korea | 3 | 48.520 December | 3.6× |
| Gyeongsan-siGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 5 | 51.520 December | 3.6× |
| KuryeJeollanam-do, South Korea | 1 | 27.217 December | 3.3× |
| GapyeongGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 5 | 41.117 December | 3.1× |
| HwawŏnDaegu, South Korea | 3 | 38.920 December | 3.1× |
| MungyeongGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 4 | 37.220 December | 3.0× |
| ChangwonGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 3 | 32.320 December | 3.0× |
| GeojeGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 1 | 31.619 December | 3.0× |
| SejongSejong-si, South Korea | 3 | 49.920 December | 3.0× |
| WabuGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 3 | 41.717 December | 2.8× |
| Chinch'ŏnNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 4 | 48.720 December | 2.8× |
| HadongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 1 | 26.517 December | 2.8× |
| OsanGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 2 | 44.917 December | 2.8× |
| ChangnyeongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 3 | 34.520 December | 2.8× |
| ChuncheonGangwon-do, South Korea | 4 | 41.718 December | 2.8× |
| CheorwonGangwon-do, South Korea | 2 | 43.917 December | 2.8× |
| WaegwanGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 40.820 December | 2.8× |
| GyeongjuGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 31.017 December | 2.8× |
| Anyang-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 39.317 December | 2.7× |
| Ansan-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 40.717 December | 2.7× |
| Hwaseong-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 2 | 38.117 December | 2.7× |
| KimhaeGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 3 | 33.820 December | 2.7× |
| OkcheonNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 4 | 45.317 December | 2.7× |
| YangjuGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 3 | 42.217 December | 2.7× |
| Bucheon-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 39.517 December | 2.7× |
| HaenamJeollanam-do, South Korea | 2 | 27.020 December | 2.6× |
| YeonilGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 35.020 December | 2.6× |
| GongjuChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 3 | 36.020 December | 2.6× |
| ChangsuJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 36.120 December | 2.6× |
| YeongamJeollanam-do, South Korea | 2 | 29.620 December | 2.6× |
| KwangyangJeollanam-do, South Korea | 1 | 28.020 December | 2.6× |
| Seongnam-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 3 | 37.017 December | 2.6× |
| NaesŏGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 1 | 32.620 December | 2.6× |
| Jinan-gunJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 30.517 December | 2.6× |
| GwangmyeongGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 40.417 December | 2.6× |
| YecheonGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 4 | 33.420 December | 2.6× |
| MiryangGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 4 | 32.520 December | 2.6× |
| YesanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 2 | 37.717 December | 2.5× |
| DaejeonDaejeon, South Korea | 2 | 32.820 December | 2.5× |
| SuwonGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 2 | 42.217 December | 2.5× |
| TangjinChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 3 | 37.617 December | 2.5× |
| Goyang-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 40.917 December | 2.5× |
| KunwiGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 32.217 December | 2.5× |
| Uijeongbu-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 40.017 December | 2.5× |
| PyeongtaekGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 2 | 43.617 December | 2.5× |
| SangjuGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 41.320 December | 2.5× |
| BoseongJeollanam-do, South Korea | 1 | 29.620 December | 2.5× |
| SeoulSeoul, South Korea | 1 | 40.117 December | 2.5× |
| GwangyangJeollanam-do, South Korea | 1 | 25.820 December | 2.5× |
| GimcheonGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 1 | 46.320 December | 2.5× |
| Gimpo-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 41.417 December | 2.5× |
| Icheon-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 5 | 46.720 December | 2.5× |
| SuncheonJeollanam-do, South Korea | 1 | 26.820 December | 2.5× |
| ImsilJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 28.617 December | 2.5× |
| SeonghwanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 3 | 50.317 December | 2.5× |
| AsanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 2 | 42.617 December | 2.4× |
| Guri-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 39.617 December | 2.4× |
| CheonanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 2 | 36.317 December | 2.4× |
| BoryeongChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 1 | 34.117 December | 2.4× |
| NonsanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 1 | 38.620 December | 2.4× |
| YeosuJeollanam-do, South Korea | 2 | 25.520 December | 2.4× |
| ChungjuNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 4 | 43.020 December | 2.4× |
| AnseongGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 5 | 40.217 December | 2.4× |
| YeongdongNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 2 | 44.920 December | 2.4× |
| Cheongsong gunGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 28.517 December | 2.4× |
| KinzanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 2 | 45.220 December | 2.4× |
| IncheonIncheon, South Korea | 1 | 35.917 December | 2.4× |
| Koch'angJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 25.417 December | 2.4× |
| YangguGangwon-do, South Korea | 1 | 28.020 December | 2.3× |
| HwadoGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 46.317 December | 2.3× |
| DamyangJeollanam-do, South Korea | 2 | 27.617 December | 2.3× |
| ChinjuGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 2 | 30.420 December | 2.3× |
| YŏnmuChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 1 | 39.020 December | 2.3× |
| MunsanGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 2 | 37.917 December | 2.3× |
| AndongGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 35.718 December | 2.2× |
| GumiGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 1 | 45.920 December | 2.2× |
| HongseongChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 1 | 34.917 December | 2.2× |
| Cheongju-siNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 2 | 39.520 December | 2.2× |
| GunsanJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 31.517 December | 2.2× |
| UlsanUlsan, South Korea | 2 | 27.717 December | 2.2× |
| Hongch’ŏnGangwon-do, South Korea | 2 | 38.020 December | 2.2× |
| TongyeongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 2 | 29.420 December | 2.2× |
| NeietsuGangwon-do, South Korea | 1 | 31.818 December | 2.2× |
| IksanJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 1 | 35.620 December | 2.2× |
| SinhyeonGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 1 | 26.417 December | 2.1× |
| MokpoJeollanam-do, South Korea | 1 | 31.217 December | 2.1× |
| HanamGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 35.017 December | 2.1× |
| NangenJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 1 | 35.817 December | 2.1× |
| JeonjuJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 27.517 December | 2.1× |
| BusanBusan, South Korea | 1 | 28.517 December | 2.1× |
| GwangjuGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 38.820 December | 2.1× |
| KoesanNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 1 | 37.917 December | 2.1× |
| NamyangjuGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 35.717 December | 2.1× |
| JangseongJeollanam-do, South Korea | 1 | 25.820 December | 2.1× |
| WanjuJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 1 | 27.617 December | 2.1× |
| MasanGwangju, South Korea | 1 | 31.820 December | 2.1× |
| JeongeupJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 1 | 29.717 December | 2.1× |
| Jeju CityJeju-do, South Korea | 1 | 25.117 December | 2.1× |
| PohangGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 1 | 33.117 December | 2.0× |
| WŏnjuGangwon-do, South Korea | 1 | 40.719 December | 2.0× |
| Ganghwa-gunIncheon, South Korea | 2 | 36.216 December | 2.0× |
| HwacheonGangwon-do, South Korea | 1 | 25.818 December | 2.0× |
| JungpyongNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 1 | 39.120 December | 2.0× |
| GwangjuGwangju, South Korea | 1 | 27.820 December | 2.0× |
Daily means in µg/m³. Usual: the city's median for this time of year (its days within 21 days of the date, every year, leaving out the week around it). Above usual: its highest day against that.
Against other episodes in South Korea
Number 12 of 43 episodes in South Korea since our records began, by cities reached.
- Japan and South Korea, March 2025454
- Japan and South Korea, March 2026305
- Japan and South Korea, January 2025274
- Japan and South Korea, February and March 2025192
- South Korea and Japan, January 2026169
- South Korea and Japan, February 2026147
- South Korea, February 2025132
- South Korea, November 2025128
- South Korea, February 2026121
- South Korea, December 2025113
- South Korea, January 2025113
- South Korea, December 2025107
Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 43.
Use this page
SmogRank, South Korea, December 2025: 107 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 16 to 20 December 2025, smogrank.com/episodes/2025-12-south-korea-3 (accessed 2 October 2026).
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.