SmogRank / Episodes / South Korea
Happening now, updated daily
South Korea, October 2026
For 2 days so far, since 9 October, 25 cities in South Korea had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Seonghwan, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea: 39.0 µg/m³ on 9 October, about 3.4× its usual 11.6.
Likely smoke from fires Fires were detected within 300 km of the city on 74% of the counted city-days. Satellites see crop, field and forest fires alike, so this doesn't say which burned.
Cities reached 25 in 1 country
Days 2 9 to 10 October 2026
Worst day 10 October 23 cities counted
Furthest above usual 3.8× Pyeongtaek
Day by day
Play 10 October 23 cities at twice their usual or more
Namsa Nonsan Buyeo Jeonju Gongju Boryeong Daejeon Kinzan Jinan-gun Imsil Hongseong Sintansin Okcheon Koch'ang Changsu Damyang Jangseong Nangen Yeongdong Gwangju Chinch'ŏn Masan Jungpyong Kurye Hwasun Taesal-li Naju Koesan Gimcheon Suncheon Sangju Kwangyang Beolgyo Hadong Yeongam Boseong Icheon-si Anyang-si Chungju Gwangyang Mungyeong Gwangju Seongnam-si Gumi Jangheung Yeoju Incheon Gwangmyeong Chinju Bucheon-si Waegwan Yongsan-dong Yeosu Hanam Seoul Sinan Yangp'yŏng Haenam Guri-si Wabu Gimpo-si Hwawŏn Namyangju Goyang-si Yecheon Wŏnju Hwado Kunwi Changnyeong Daegu Uijeongbu-si Ganghwa-gun Goseong Yangju Naesŏ Munsan Gyeongsan-si Andong Yeongju Hongch’ŏn Hayang Neietsu Miryang Tongyeong Changwon Pyeongchang Chuncheon Eisen Sinhyeon Kimhae Cheongsong gun Cheorwon Geoje Hwacheon Yangsan Gyeongju Yanggu Busan Ungsang T’aebaek Yeonil Gijang Pohang Ulsan Gangneung Santyoku Donghae City Jumunjin Sokcho Kosong Tsushima Iki Dodong-ri Koga Munakata Koga Nakama Nōgata Iizuka Kitakyushu Shimonoseki Tagawa Nagato Kanda Yukuhashi Mine Onoda Hagi Ube Yamaguchi Mokpo Wanju Yesan Jeongeup Tangjin Kimje Cheonan Yŏnmu Pubal Cheongju-si Iksan Buan Hwaseong-si Gunsan Ansan-si Sejong Muan Suwon Asan Seosan Yeonggwang Seonghwan Osan Anseong Pyeongtaek On the map: 42 fire detections.
6 Oct 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 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. Fires, seen Heat NASA satellites detected that day; bigger and glowing means more detections in the area. Farm burning and other fires count too, not only wildfires.Volcanic ash, warned A volcano with an ash warning for aircraft that day; shaded where forecasters saw the ash cloud.Under the cities, for each UTC day: fires NASA satellites detected, smoke NOAA analysts traced and volcanic ash warnings for aircraft. They show what was in the air, not that it caused the readings. Mapped for 5 of the 8 days shown.
Fires: NASA FIRMS (VIIRS). Traced smoke: NOAA Hazard Mapping System. Volcanic ash: aviation ash warnings (SIGMETs) via NOAA's Aviation Weather Center.
How it spread
Seonghwan Seonghwan, 6 October: 9.1 µg/m³ Seonghwan, 7 October: 18.4 µg/m³ Seonghwan, 8 October: 21.2 µg/m³ Seonghwan, 9 October: 39.0 µg/m³, 3.4× its usual 11.6 Seonghwan, 10 October: 35.4 µg/m³, 3.0× its usual 11.8 Seonghwan, 11 October: no reading Seonghwan, 12 October: no reading Seonghwan, 13 October: no reading Pyeongtaek Pyeongtaek, 6 October: 7.8 µg/m³ Pyeongtaek, 7 October: 13.6 µg/m³ Pyeongtaek, 8 October: 18.9 µg/m³ Pyeongtaek, 9 October: 35.9 µg/m³, 3.8× its usual 9.5 Pyeongtaek, 10 October: 37.0 µg/m³, 3.8× its usual 9.8 Pyeongtaek, 11 October: no reading Pyeongtaek, 12 October: no reading Pyeongtaek, 13 October: no reading Hwaseong-si Hwaseong-si, 6 October: 4.6 µg/m³ Hwaseong-si, 7 October: 8.5 µg/m³ Hwaseong-si, 8 October: 16.8 µg/m³ Hwaseong-si, 9 October: 29.8 µg/m³, 2.8× its usual 10.5 Hwaseong-si, 10 October: 29.0 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 10.8 Hwaseong-si, 11 October: no reading Hwaseong-si, 12 October: no reading Hwaseong-si, 13 October: no reading Osan Osan, 6 October: 6.0 µg/m³ Osan, 7 October: 8.9 µg/m³ Osan, 8 October: 15.8 µg/m³ Osan, 9 October: 29.0 µg/m³, 3.6× its usual 8.1 Osan, 10 October: 27.8 µg/m³, 3.2× its usual 8.6 Osan, 11 October: no reading Osan, 12 October: no reading Osan, 13 October: no reading Pubal Pubal, 6 October: 7.8 µg/m³ Pubal, 7 October: 27.8 µg/m³ Pubal, 8 October: 21.7 µg/m³ Pubal, 9 October: 28.0 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 11.3 Pubal, 10 October: 30.8 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 11.8 Pubal, 11 October: no reading Pubal, 12 October: no reading Pubal, 13 October: no reading Suwon Suwon, 6 October: 7.3 µg/m³ Suwon, 7 October: 10.1 µg/m³ Suwon, 8 October: 16.4 µg/m³ Suwon, 9 October: 27.3 µg/m³, 3.0× its usual 9.2 Suwon, 10 October: 25.0 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 9.4 Suwon, 11 October: no reading Suwon, 12 October: no reading Suwon, 13 October: no reading Ansan-si Ansan-si, 6 October: 6.5 µg/m³ Ansan-si, 7 October: 10.1 µg/m³ Ansan-si, 8 October: 16.5 µg/m³ Ansan-si, 9 October: 26.5 µg/m³, 2.9× its usual 9.0 Ansan-si, 10 October: 24.7 µg/m³ Ansan-si, 11 October: no reading Ansan-si, 12 October: no reading Ansan-si, 13 October: no reading Anseong Anseong, 6 October: 5.3 µg/m³ Anseong, 7 October: 9.7 µg/m³ Anseong, 8 October: 11.9 µg/m³ Anseong, 9 October: 25.8 µg/m³, 3.7× its usual 6.9 Anseong, 10 October: 24.9 µg/m³ Anseong, 11 October: no reading Anseong, 12 October: no reading Anseong, 13 October: no reading Kimje Kimje, 6 October: 11.4 µg/m³ Kimje, 7 October: 14.3 µg/m³ Kimje, 8 October: 18.4 µg/m³ Kimje, 9 October: 25.8 µg/m³ Kimje, 10 October: 32.4 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 13.7 Kimje, 11 October: no reading Kimje, 12 October: no reading Kimje, 13 October: no reading Buan Buan, 6 October: 7.3 µg/m³ Buan, 7 October: 10.3 µg/m³ Buan, 8 October: no reading Buan, 9 October: 22.1 µg/m³ Buan, 10 October: 31.0 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 11.5 Buan, 11 October: no reading Buan, 12 October: no reading Buan, 13 October: no reading Iksan Iksan, 6 October: 5.7 µg/m³ Iksan, 7 October: 10.4 µg/m³ Iksan, 8 October: 16.2 µg/m³ Iksan, 9 October: 22.3 µg/m³ Iksan, 10 October: 31.0 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 11.5 Iksan, 11 October: no reading Iksan, 12 October: no reading Iksan, 13 October: no reading Tangjin Tangjin, 6 October: 13.0 µg/m³ Tangjin, 7 October: 11.8 µg/m³ Tangjin, 8 October: 14.5 µg/m³ Tangjin, 9 October: 25.0 µg/m³ Tangjin, 10 October: 30.0 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 12.7 Tangjin, 11 October: no reading Tangjin, 12 October: no reading Tangjin, 13 October: no reading Gunsan Gunsan, 6 October: 6.0 µg/m³ Gunsan, 7 October: 10.0 µg/m³ Gunsan, 8 October: 15.5 µg/m³ Gunsan, 9 October: 21.7 µg/m³ Gunsan, 10 October: 29.9 µg/m³, 2.8× its usual 10.8 Gunsan, 11 October: no reading Gunsan, 12 October: no reading Gunsan, 13 October: no reading Yesan Yesan, 6 October: 7.9 µg/m³ Yesan, 7 October: 9.7 µg/m³ Yesan, 8 October: 12.3 µg/m³ Yesan, 9 October: 21.8 µg/m³ Yesan, 10 October: 28.8 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 12.4 Yesan, 11 October: no reading Yesan, 12 October: no reading Yesan, 13 October: no reading Yeonggwang Yeonggwang, 6 October: 5.9 µg/m³ Yeonggwang, 7 October: 7.3 µg/m³ Yeonggwang, 8 October: 11.9 µg/m³ Yeonggwang, 9 October: 15.3 µg/m³ Yeonggwang, 10 October: 28.5 µg/m³, 3.2× its usual 9.0 Yeonggwang, 11 October: no reading Yeonggwang, 12 October: no reading Yeonggwang, 13 October: no reading Jeongeup Jeongeup, 6 October: 7.5 µg/m³ Jeongeup, 7 October: 8.8 µg/m³ Jeongeup, 8 October: 13.5 µg/m³ Jeongeup, 9 October: 18.1 µg/m³ Jeongeup, 10 October: 28.1 µg/m³, 2.4× its usual 11.6 Jeongeup, 11 October: no reading Jeongeup, 12 October: no reading Jeongeup, 13 October: no reading Asan Asan, 6 October: 8.0 µg/m³ Asan, 7 October: 9.6 µg/m³ Asan, 8 October: 13.2 µg/m³ Asan, 9 October: 23.9 µg/m³ Asan, 10 October: 27.8 µg/m³, 3.0× its usual 9.3 Asan, 11 October: no reading Asan, 12 October: no reading Asan, 13 October: no reading Wanju Wanju, 6 October: 9.8 µg/m³ Wanju, 7 October: 11.9 µg/m³ Wanju, 8 October: 15.2 µg/m³ Wanju, 9 October: 22.4 µg/m³ Wanju, 10 October: 27.8 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 12.1 Wanju, 11 October: no reading Wanju, 12 October: no reading Wanju, 13 October: no reading Sejong Sejong, 6 October: 7.3 µg/m³ Sejong, 7 October: 11.1 µg/m³ Sejong, 8 October: 14.9 µg/m³ Sejong, 9 October: 24.3 µg/m³ Sejong, 10 October: 27.3 µg/m³, 2.9× its usual 9.4 Sejong, 11 October: no reading Sejong, 12 October: no reading Sejong, 13 October: no reading Cheonan Cheonan, 6 October: 6.6 µg/m³ Cheonan, 7 October: 9.2 µg/m³ Cheonan, 8 October: 14.5 µg/m³ Cheonan, 9 October: 24.7 µg/m³ Cheonan, 10 October: 26.8 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 10.6 Cheonan, 11 October: no reading Cheonan, 12 October: no reading Cheonan, 13 October: no reading Muan Muan, 6 October: 12.0 µg/m³ Muan, 7 October: 13.0 µg/m³ Muan, 8 October: 13.4 µg/m³ Muan, 9 October: 17.5 µg/m³ Muan, 10 October: 26.4 µg/m³, 3.0× its usual 8.8 Muan, 11 October: no reading Muan, 12 October: no reading Muan, 13 October: no reading Mokpo Mokpo, 6 October: 12.6 µg/m³ Mokpo, 7 October: 15.2 µg/m³ Mokpo, 8 October: 18.7 µg/m³ Mokpo, 9 October: 21.9 µg/m³ Mokpo, 10 October: 26.2 µg/m³, 2.0× its usual 12.8 Mokpo, 11 October: no reading Mokpo, 12 October: no reading Mokpo, 13 October: no reading Yŏnmu Yŏnmu, 6 October: 7.5 µg/m³ Yŏnmu, 7 October: 12.3 µg/m³ Yŏnmu, 8 October: 15.4 µg/m³ Yŏnmu, 9 October: 19.9 µg/m³ Yŏnmu, 10 October: 25.8 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 9.9 Yŏnmu, 11 October: no reading Yŏnmu, 12 October: no reading Yŏnmu, 13 October: no reading Seosan Seosan, 6 October: 8.4 µg/m³ Seosan, 7 October: 8.5 µg/m³ Seosan, 8 October: 13.5 µg/m³ Seosan, 9 October: 18.3 µg/m³ Seosan, 10 October: 25.5 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 8.2 Seosan, 11 October: no reading Seosan, 12 October: no reading Seosan, 13 October: no reading Cheongju-si Cheongju-si, 6 October: 8.3 µg/m³ Cheongju-si, 7 October: 10.0 µg/m³ Cheongju-si, 8 October: 17.8 µg/m³ Cheongju-si, 9 October: 23.7 µg/m³ Cheongju-si, 10 October: 25.4 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 9.4 Cheongju-si, 11 October: no reading Cheongju-si, 12 October: no reading Cheongju-si, 13 October: no reading 6 Oct 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 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
Pyeongtaek Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 2 10 October 9.8 3.8× Anseong Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 1 9 October 6.9 3.7× Osan Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 2 9 October 8.1 3.6× Seonghwan Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 2 9 October 11.6 3.4× Yeonggwang Jeollanam-do, South Korea 1 10 October 9.0 3.2× Seosan Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 10 October 8.2 3.1× Asan Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 10 October 9.3 3.0× Suwon Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 2 9 October 9.2 3.0× Muan Jeollanam-do, South Korea 1 10 October 8.8 3.0× Sejong Sejong-si, South Korea 1 10 October 9.4 2.9× Ansan-si Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 1 9 October 9.0 2.9× Gunsan Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 10 October 10.8 2.8× Hwaseong-si Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 2 9 October 10.5 2.8× Buan Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 10 October 11.5 2.7× Iksan Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 10 October 11.5 2.7× Cheongju-si North Chungcheong, South Korea 1 10 October 9.4 2.7× Pubal Gyeonggi-do, South Korea 2 10 October 11.8 2.6× Yŏnmu Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 10 October 9.9 2.6× Cheonan Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 10 October 10.6 2.5× Kimje Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 10 October 13.7 2.4× Tangjin Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 10 October 12.7 2.4× Jeongeup Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 10 October 11.6 2.4× Yesan Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea 1 10 October 12.4 2.3× Wanju Jeollabuk-do, South Korea 1 10 October 12.1 2.3× Mokpo Jeollanam-do, South Korea 1 10 October 12.8 2.0×
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 38 of 65 episodes in South Korea since our records began, by cities reached.
Japan and South Korea, March 2026 322 Japan and South Korea, 17 to 24 January 2025 285 Japan and South Korea, February and March 2025 200 South Korea and Japan, January 2026 176 South Korea and Japan, 10 to 15 February 2026 153 South Korea, 14 to 16 February 2025 136 South Korea and Japan, November 2025 132 South Korea, February 2026 124 South Korea, 13 to 14 January 2025 117 South Korea, 7 December 2025 116 South Korea, 16 to 20 December 2025 109 South Korea and Japan, 27 May to 3 June 2025 105 South Korea, October 2026 25 Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 65 .
Use this page SmogRank, South Korea, October 2026: 25 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 9 to 10 October 2026, smogrank.com/episodes/2026-10-south-korea (accessed 11 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. Fire detections from NASA FIRMS; smoke maps from NOAA HMS. Dust: contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information 2026. Neither the European Commission nor ECMWF is responsible for any use that may be made of the Copernicus information or data it contains.
