SmogRank / Episodes / South Korea
South Korea, September 2026
For 21 days, from 1 to 21 September 2026, 132 cities in South Korea had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Nangen, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea: 1,270.0 µg/m³ on 16 September, about 140× its usual 9.1.
Day by day
How it spread
Every city it reached
| City | Days | Highest | Above usual |
|---|---|---|---|
| KunwiGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 1,260.021 September | 252× |
| YangjuGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 4 | 1,250.06 September | 240× |
| Koch'angJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 1,250.029 August | 240× |
| KosongGangwon-do, South Korea | 8 | 1,250.03 September | 231× |
| Jinan-gunJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 1,250.030 August | 227× |
| T’aebaekGangwon-do, South Korea | 2 | 1,260.07 September | 200× |
| KinzanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 2 | 1,250.017 September | 198× |
| GyeongjuGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 1,250.029 August | 187× |
| GaigeturiJeju-do, South Korea | 7 | 1,260.02 September | 173× |
| GapyeongGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 3 | 834.01 September | 167× |
| AnseongGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 8 | 1,250.05 September | 167× |
| GongjuChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 3 | 1,250.01 September | 164× |
| GwangjuGwangju, South Korea | 1 | 1,250.031 August | 164× |
| HadongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 5 | 1,260.021 September | 162× |
| SeogwipoJeju-do, South Korea | 6 | 1,260.02 September | 159× |
| YangguGangwon-do, South Korea | 3 | 841.015 September | 159× |
| Cheongju-siNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 3 | 1,260.021 September | 158× |
| Jeju CityJeju-do, South Korea | 2 | 1,260.02 September | 158× |
| YeongamJeollanam-do, South Korea | 1 | 1,260.02 September | 158× |
| GimcheonGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 1,250.031 August | 156× |
| JumunjinGangwon-do, South Korea | 3 | 838.018 September | 150× |
| MasanGwangju, South Korea | 7 | 1,250.031 August | 149× |
| OkcheonNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 3 | 1,260.09 September | 148× |
| Cheongsong gunGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 838.08 September | 147× |
| YeongdongNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 2 | 1,260.02 September | 147× |
| HwasunJeollanam-do, South Korea | 14 | 1,260.06 September | 147× |
| WabuGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 3 | 840.08 September | 145× |
| KuryeJeollanam-do, South Korea | 3 | 849.015 September | 144× |
| GeojeGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 4 | 1,260.012 September | 143× |
| NangenJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 12 | 1,270.016 September | 140× |
| PubalGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 5 | 1,260.016 September | 138× |
| ChuncheonGangwon-do, South Korea | 4 | 836.031 August | 131× |
| Hwaseong-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 9 | 1,250.010 September | 130× |
| YeonggwangJeollanam-do, South Korea | 3 | 1,260.08 September | 130× |
| SeosanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 14 | 1,250.01 September | 129× |
| BuanJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 6 | 1,250.031 August | 128× |
| HwawŏnDaegu, South Korea | 3 | 1,260.02 September | 127× |
| MiryangGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 11 | 1,260.02 September | 126× |
| Hongch’ŏnGangwon-do, South Korea | 1 | 836.011 September | 125× |
| EisenGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 1,260.015 September | 125× |
| CheorwonGangwon-do, South Korea | 6 | 1,260.05 September | 125× |
| YecheonGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 1,260.04 September | 124× |
| JeongeupJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 4 | 1,260.04 September | 124× |
| ChangsuJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 7 | 847.016 September | 123× |
| TangjinChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 6 | 1,250.01 September | 121× |
| MungyeongGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 836.029 August | 121× |
| ChangnyeongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 4 | 1,260.01 September | 120× |
| Yangp'yŏngGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 8 | 836.518 September | 120× |
| JeonjuJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 845.516 September | 119× |
| YesanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 4 | 1,270.02 September | 118× |
| NeietsuGangwon-do, South Korea | 3 | 838.02 September | 115× |
| MokpoJeollanam-do, South Korea | 11 | 1,270.019 September | 113× |
| JungpyongNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 4 | 1,045.58 September | 112× |
| BoryeongChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 4 | 1,043.031 August | 112× |
| KoesanNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 3 | 1,052.03 September | 112× |
| IksanJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 846.516 September | 109× |
| SokchoGangwon-do, South Korea | 2 | 841.07 September | 108× |
| KimhaeGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 1 | 838.031 August | 107× |
| ChinjuGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 5 | 1,052.07 September | 107× |
| BoseongJeollanam-do, South Korea | 3 | 840.018 September | 106× |
| NamsaJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 5 | 847.016 September | 106× |
| MuanJeollanam-do, South Korea | 7 | 845.57 September | 106× |
| YeonilGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 1 | 834.030 August | 106× |
| JangheungJeollanam-do, South Korea | 4 | 844.016 September | 106× |
| SinhyeonGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 10 | 1,260.01 September | 105× |
| SinanJeollanam-do, South Korea | 3 | 845.017 September | 104× |
| SejongSejong-si, South Korea | 6 | 841.029 August | 104× |
| ImsilJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 4 | 839.011 September | 104× |
| YeongjuGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 839.029 August | 102× |
| GwangjuGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 6 | 835.01 September | 102× |
| NajuJeollanam-do, South Korea | 3 | 845.017 September | 102× |
| Anyang-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 2 | 836.04 September | 101× |
| HongseongChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 6 | 1,050.018 September | 100× |
| YŏnmuChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 6 | 846.016 September | 100× |
| GunsanJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 4 | 847.016 September | 98× |
| YeojuGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 7 | 1,048.59 September | 98× |
| WaegwanGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 847.016 September | 93× |
| NonsanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 8 | 841.011 September | 92× |
| Taesal-liChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 10 | 844.014 September | 92× |
| BuyeoChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 5 | 847.014 September | 90× |
| GwangmyeongGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 2 | 843.03 September | 88× |
| HanamGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 2 | 837.510 September | 87× |
| GangneungGangwon-do, South Korea | 7 | 632.84 September | 87× |
| YangsanGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 4 | 847.014 September | 86× |
| MunsanGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 3 | 627.01 September | 84× |
| HaenamJeollanam-do, South Korea | 2 | 1,250.02 September | 83× |
| AsanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 6 | 844.016 September | 83× |
| WanjuJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 849.016 September | 82× |
| NamyangjuGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 5 | 633.217 September | 81× |
| TongyeongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 3 | 849.015 September | 81× |
| GoseongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 5 | 845.03 September | 80× |
| SeonghwanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 5 | 1,053.58 September | 79× |
| HwacheonGangwon-do, South Korea | 4 | 422.018 September | 77× |
| Icheon-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 4 | 843.02 September | 77× |
| KimjeJeollabuk-do, South Korea | 6 | 857.021 September | 76× |
| Ganghwa-gunIncheon, South Korea | 3 | 843.017 September | 75× |
| HayangGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 6 | 837.510 September | 71× |
| Chinch'ŏnNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 2 | 636.229 August | 66× |
| JangseongJeollanam-do, South Korea | 3 | 430.021 September | 66× |
| UngsangGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 3 | 637.87 September | 65× |
| SangjuGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 430.016 September | 63× |
| Donghae CityGangwon-do, South Korea | 3 | 639.321 September | 63× |
| DaejeonDaejeon, South Korea | 1 | 425.02 September | 63× |
| WŏnjuGangwon-do, South Korea | 3 | 625.91 September | 59× |
| Bucheon-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 425.02 September | 58× |
| Seongnam-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 3 | 424.02 September | 58× |
| GijangBusan, South Korea | 3 | 425.521 September | 57× |
| AndongGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 3 | 424.03 September | 56× |
| YeosuJeollanam-do, South Korea | 2 | 424.52 September | 54× |
| SuncheonJeollanam-do, South Korea | 2 | 431.016 September | 54× |
| KwangyangJeollanam-do, South Korea | 1 | 424.02 September | 54× |
| BusanBusan, South Korea | 3 | 427.021 September | 53× |
| Goyang-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 3 | 428.017 September | 52× |
| SeoulSeoul, South Korea | 1 | 425.02 September | 51× |
| OsanGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 429.02 September | 50× |
| GwangyangJeollanam-do, South Korea | 3 | 424.02 September | 50× |
| Uijeongbu-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 2 | 426.03 September | 50× |
| Guri-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 425.02 September | 47× |
| SuwonGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 424.52 September | 46× |
| NaesŏGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 3 | 428.02 September | 46× |
| ChangwonGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea | 1 | 431.02 September | 45× |
| ChungjuNorth Chungcheong, South Korea | 1 | 424.02 September | 45× |
| PohangGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 1 | 428.02 September | 44× |
| SantyokuGangwon-do, South Korea | 3 | 423.818 September | 43× |
| PyeongtaekGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 4 | 432.02 September | 43× |
| IncheonIncheon, South Korea | 1 | 427.02 September | 43× |
| CheonanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 2 | 429.08 September | 42× |
| UlsanUlsan, South Korea | 1 | 432.02 September | 42× |
| Gimpo-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 1 | 428.52 September | 41× |
| Ansan-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 2 | 431.014 September | 41× |
| GumiGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 2 | 423.52 September | 40× |
| HwadoGyeonggi-do, South Korea | 3 | 421.02 September | 31× |
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.
Use this page
SmogRank, South Korea, September 2026: 132 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 1 to 21 September 2026, smogrank.com/episodes/2026-09-south-korea (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.