SmogRank / Episodes / South Korea
South Korea, May 2026
For 1 day, on 29 May 2026, 26 cities in South Korea had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Hongseong, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea: 44.3 µg/m³ on 29 May, about 2.8× its usual 15.7.
No cause named We have no fire or smoke records for these days, so we only say what the measurements show.
Cities reached 26 in 1 country
Days 1 29 May 2026
Worst day 29 May 26 cities counted
Furthest above usual 2.8× Yeongam
Day by day
Play 29 May 26 cities at twice their usual or more
Nonsan Buyeo Kinzan Daejeon Changsu Damyang Sejong Yeongdong Cheongju-si Kurye Cheonan Yeonggwang Hwasun Seonghwan Jungpyong Chinch'ŏn Seosan Pyeongtaek Gimcheon Tangjin Suncheon Anseong Kwangyang Hadong Koesan Beolgyo Muan Boseong Gwangyang Sangju Taesal-li Osan Chinju Gumi Mungyeong Waegwan Yeosu Mokpo Chungju Suwon Icheon-si Ansan-si Pubal Hwawŏn Haenam Anyang-si Yeoju Changnyeong Gwangju Sinan Seongnam-si Daegu Kunwi Yecheon Gwangmyeong Incheon Goseong Bucheon-si Naesŏ Yangp'yŏng Hanam Seoul Wŏnju Wabu Guri-si Gyeongsan-si Namyangju Gimpo-si Hwado Miryang Goyang-si Tongyeong Hayang Changwon Andong Yeongju Uijeongbu-si Eisen Neietsu Sinhyeon Yangju Ganghwa-gun Hongch’ŏn Kimhae Gapyeong Munsan Geoje Cheongsong gun Chuncheon Yangsan Busan Gyeongju Ungsang Yeonil Gijang Hwacheon Cheorwon T’aebaek Ulsan Pohang Yanggu Jeju City Gangneung Santyoku Donghae City Jumunjin Sokcho Kosong Tsushima Iki Itoshima Maebaru-chūō Koga Fukuoka Munakata Kasuga Wakasugi Koga Nakama Nōgata Iizuka Kitakyushu Shimonoseki Tagawa Nagato Kanda Yukuhashi Mine Onoda Hagi Ube Buzen Yamaguchi Nakatsu Hōfu Gongju Iksan Naju Hwaseong-si Kimje Masan Boryeong Yesan Jangseong Jinan-gun Imsil Koch'ang Gwangju Namsa Nangen Buan Jeongeup Yŏnmu Jangheung Okcheon Jeonju Gunsan Asan Wanju Yeongam Hongseong 26 May 27 28 29 30 31 1 Jun 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
Hongseong Hongseong, 26 May: no reading Hongseong, 27 May: 8.4 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Hongseong, 28 May: 12.7 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Hongseong, 29 May: 44.3 µg/m³, 2.8× usual Hongseong, 30 May: 20.5 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Hongseong, 31 May: 16.4 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Hongseong, 1 June: 16.3 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Wanju Wanju, 26 May: 16.4 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Wanju, 27 May: 11.9 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Wanju, 28 May: 15.4 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Wanju, 29 May: 42.4 µg/m³, 2.5× usual Wanju, 30 May: 21.2 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Wanju, 31 May: 18.3 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Wanju, 1 June: 21.6 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Gunsan Gunsan, 26 May: 15.8 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Gunsan, 27 May: 9.2 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Gunsan, 28 May: 16.3 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Gunsan, 29 May: 42.3 µg/m³, 2.5× usual Gunsan, 30 May: 22.0 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Gunsan, 31 May: 23.1 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Gunsan, 1 June: 22.4 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Asan Asan, 26 May: 22.7 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Asan, 27 May: no reading Asan, 28 May: 15.0 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Asan, 29 May: 42.0 µg/m³, 2.5× usual Asan, 30 May: 14.8 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Asan, 31 May: 17.3 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Asan, 1 June: 16.2 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Iksan Iksan, 26 May: 13.6 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Iksan, 27 May: 7.9 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Iksan, 28 May: 17.1 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Iksan, 29 May: 42.0 µg/m³, 2.1× usual Iksan, 30 May: 23.6 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Iksan, 31 May: 20.8 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Iksan, 1 June: 22.0 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Yŏnmu Yŏnmu, 26 May: 15.6 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Yŏnmu, 27 May: no reading Yŏnmu, 28 May: 12.1 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Yŏnmu, 29 May: 41.1 µg/m³, 2.4× usual Yŏnmu, 30 May: 19.8 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Yŏnmu, 31 May: 15.5 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Yŏnmu, 1 June: 22.7 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Yesan Yesan, 26 May: 24.9 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Yesan, 27 May: 12.4 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Yesan, 28 May: 14.8 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Yesan, 29 May: 41.0 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Yesan, 30 May: 18.1 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Yesan, 31 May: 17.1 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Yesan, 1 June: 19.3 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Jeongeup Jeongeup, 26 May: 13.9 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Jeongeup, 27 May: 9.8 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Jeongeup, 28 May: 12.5 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Jeongeup, 29 May: 40.9 µg/m³, 2.4× usual Jeongeup, 30 May: 17.7 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Jeongeup, 31 May: 16.1 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Jeongeup, 1 June: 19.8 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Buan Buan, 26 May: 16.7 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Buan, 27 May: 8.9 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Buan, 28 May: 15.1 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Buan, 29 May: 37.9 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Buan, 30 May: 21.0 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Buan, 31 May: 19.8 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Buan, 1 June: 24.2 µg/m³, 1.5× usual Hwaseong-si Hwaseong-si, 26 May: 19.7 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Hwaseong-si, 27 May: 11.6 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Hwaseong-si, 28 May: 15.4 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Hwaseong-si, 29 May: 37.3 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Hwaseong-si, 30 May: 23.8 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Hwaseong-si, 31 May: 21.9 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Hwaseong-si, 1 June: 20.3 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Kimje Kimje, 26 May: 12.3 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Kimje, 27 May: 6.3 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Kimje, 28 May: 13.3 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Kimje, 29 May: 36.6 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Kimje, 30 May: 20.0 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Kimje, 31 May: 16.8 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Kimje, 1 June: 20.5 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Namsa Namsa, 26 May: 14.2 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Namsa, 27 May: 7.0 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Namsa, 28 May: 16.0 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Namsa, 29 May: 36.2 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Namsa, 30 May: 18.5 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Namsa, 31 May: 15.0 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Namsa, 1 June: 19.8 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Masan Masan, 26 May: 9.7 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Masan, 27 May: 6.6 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Masan, 28 May: 8.5 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Masan, 29 May: 35.5 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Masan, 30 May: 17.3 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Masan, 31 May: 16.6 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Masan, 1 June: 18.3 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Yeongam Yeongam, 26 May: 7.5 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Yeongam, 27 May: 7.0 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Yeongam, 28 May: 9.8 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Yeongam, 29 May: 35.2 µg/m³, 2.8× usual Yeongam, 30 May: 18.8 µg/m³, 1.5× usual Yeongam, 31 May: 16.8 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Yeongam, 1 June: 18.6 µg/m³, 1.5× usual Jeonju Jeonju, 26 May: 11.5 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Jeonju, 27 May: 7.5 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Jeonju, 28 May: 10.3 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Jeonju, 29 May: 34.7 µg/m³, 2.5× usual Jeonju, 30 May: 13.8 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Jeonju, 31 May: 12.0 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Jeonju, 1 June: 17.0 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Koch'ang Koch'ang, 26 May: 14.3 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Koch'ang, 27 May: 10.2 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Koch'ang, 28 May: 15.2 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Koch'ang, 29 May: 33.0 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Koch'ang, 30 May: 16.7 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Koch'ang, 31 May: 15.8 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Koch'ang, 1 June: 21.7 µg/m³, 1.5× usual Naju Naju, 26 May: 8.8 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Naju, 27 May: 6.5 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Naju, 28 May: no reading Naju, 29 May: 32.0 µg/m³, 2.1× usual Naju, 30 May: 17.5 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Naju, 31 May: 18.4 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Naju, 1 June: 19.3 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Okcheon Okcheon, 26 May: 18.4 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Okcheon, 27 May: 9.4 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Okcheon, 28 May: 7.9 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Okcheon, 29 May: 31.9 µg/m³, 2.4× usual Okcheon, 30 May: 16.8 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Okcheon, 31 May: 16.3 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Okcheon, 1 June: no reading Jangheung Jangheung, 26 May: 11.0 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Jangheung, 27 May: 12.8 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Jangheung, 28 May: 12.1 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Jangheung, 29 May: 31.1 µg/m³, 2.4× usual Jangheung, 30 May: 18.5 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Jangheung, 31 May: 21.5 µg/m³, 1.6× usual Jangheung, 1 June: 25.0 µg/m³, 1.9× usual Imsil Imsil, 26 May: 12.9 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Imsil, 27 May: 6.9 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Imsil, 28 May: 7.5 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Imsil, 29 May: 30.7 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Imsil, 30 May: 12.3 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Imsil, 31 May: 12.2 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Imsil, 1 June: 18.5 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Nangen Nangen, 26 May: 7.7 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Nangen, 27 May: no reading Nangen, 28 May: 5.8 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Nangen, 29 May: 29.6 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Nangen, 30 May: 14.5 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Nangen, 31 May: 14.3 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Nangen, 1 June: 20.5 µg/m³, 1.6× usual Jinan-gun Jinan-gun, 26 May: no reading Jinan-gun, 27 May: 5.6 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Jinan-gun, 28 May: 7.9 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Jinan-gun, 29 May: 29.6 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Jinan-gun, 30 May: 13.7 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Jinan-gun, 31 May: 12.1 µg/m³, 1.0× usual Jinan-gun, 1 June: 19.5 µg/m³, 1.5× usual Gwangju Gwangju, 26 May: 9.3 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Gwangju, 27 May: 6.3 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Gwangju, 28 May: 7.9 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Gwangju, 29 May: 29.5 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Gwangju, 30 May: 16.5 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Gwangju, 31 May: 15.4 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Gwangju, 1 June: 18.0 µg/m³, 1.4× usual Boryeong Boryeong, 26 May: 12.2 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Boryeong, 27 May: 6.5 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Boryeong, 28 May: no reading Boryeong, 29 May: 29.5 µg/m³, 2.2× usual Boryeong, 30 May: 14.1 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Boryeong, 31 May: 16.4 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Boryeong, 1 June: 14.7 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Jangseong Jangseong, 26 May: 9.3 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Jangseong, 27 May: 5.0 µg/m³, 0.4× usual Jangseong, 28 May: 7.1 µg/m³, 0.6× usual Jangseong, 29 May: 28.2 µg/m³, 2.3× usual Jangseong, 30 May: 10.8 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Jangseong, 31 May: 9.6 µg/m³, 0.8× usual Jangseong, 1 June: 15.9 µg/m³, 1.3× usual Gongju Gongju, 26 May: 16.0 µg/m³, 1.2× usual Gongju, 27 May: 6.0 µg/m³, 0.5× usual Gongju, 28 May: 8.5 µg/m³, 0.7× usual Gongju, 29 May: 26.0 µg/m³, 2.0× usual Gongju, 30 May: 12.2 µg/m³, 0.9× usual Gongju, 31 May: 13.8 µg/m³, 1.1× usual Gongju, 1 June: 15.3 µg/m³, 1.2× usual 26 May 27 28 29 30 31 1 Jun 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
Yeongam Jeollanam-do, South Korea 1 29 May 12.4 2.8× Hongseong Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 29 May 15.7 2.8× Gunsan Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 29 May 16.8 2.5× Wanju Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 29 May 16.9 2.5× Jeonju Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 29 May 14.0 2.5× Asan Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 29 May 17.1 2.5× Okcheon North Chungcheong, South Korea 1 29 May 13.1 2.4× Jeongeup Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 29 May 17.0 2.4× Yŏnmu Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 29 May 17.1 2.4× Jangheung Jeollanam-do, South Korea 1 29 May 13.2 2.4× Jinan-gun Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 29 May 12.6 2.3× Buan Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 29 May 16.3 2.3× Nangen Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 29 May 12.8 2.3× Koch'ang Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 29 May 14.3 2.3× Jangseong Jeollanam-do, South Korea 1 29 May 12.3 2.3× Namsa Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 29 May 15.8 2.3× Imsil Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 29 May 13.4 2.3× Gwangju Gwangju, South Korea 1 29 May 12.9 2.3× Masan Gwangju, South Korea 1 29 May 15.8 2.2× Yesan Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 29 May 18.3 2.2× Boryeong Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 29 May 13.3 2.2× Hwaseong-si Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 1 29 May 17.3 2.2× Kimje Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 29 May 17.0 2.2× Naju Jeollanam-do, South Korea 1 29 May 15.1 2.1× Iksan Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 29 May 19.9 2.1× Gongju Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 29 May 13.0 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 29 of 43 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, February 2026 147 South Korea, February 2025 132 South Korea, November 2025 128 South Korea, February 2026 121 South Korea, December 2025 113 South Korea, January 2025 113 South Korea, December 2025 107 South Korea, May 2026 26 Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 43 .
Use this page SmogRank, South Korea, May 2026: 26 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 29 May 2026, smogrank.com/episodes/2026-05-south-korea-2 (accessed 2 October 2026).
Copy citation Download top 10 (PNG)
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.
