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South Korea · Tier 2
742 days · 2024–2026 · 5 sensors
Moderate confidenceSeasonal historical data — not for today's readings. For current air quality: IQAir ↗ · Methodology →
Independent modelled estimate for reference. Our data uses station sensors which may cover different years and locations. Methodology →
Berkeley Earth conversion: 22.0 µg/m³ PM2.5 ≈ 1 cigarette/day. This compares population-level mortality risk, not individual clinical outcomes. Acute vs chronic exposure differs significantly.
AQLI methodology: each 10 µg/m³ PM2.5 above WHO baseline (5.0 µg/m³) ≈ 0.98 years of life expectancy lost. Calculated from annual mean PM2.5 (long-term exposure), not annual median.
24-hour pattern from the most recent 7 days of hourly data. Dimmed arcs are unsafe for the selected activity.
This is a short-term trend view (not live minute-by-minute monitoring).
How does the air here compare to other health risks — and to peer cities?
Every day of the year, colored by PM2.5 air quality band.
The baseline view is No mask. You can switch to Surgical, KN95, or N95 to see a planning range for mask-adjusted exposure. Smoking-aware mode is optional and off by default.
Data-backed city context for Seoul, with practical interpretation.
Gobi and Taklamakan desert dust transported eastward by spring westerlies across China
Affects: Mar, Apr, May
Coal combustion in China and Korea transported by northwesterly winds
Affects: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
East Asian monsoon rains clear the atmosphere
Affects: Jul, Aug
Seoul residents lose an estimated 1.1 years of life expectancy on average due to PM2.5 air pollution — compared to living in a city that meets WHO air quality guidelines.
Each bar shows estimated life-years lost due to that risk factor. The orange bar is Seoul. Gray bars are risk comparisons.
Source: AQLI methodology — each 10 µg/m³ above the WHO 5 µg/m³ baseline ≈ 0.98 life-years lost. Population-level statistical estimates, not individual predictions. Methodology →
Tip: tap a day cell to pin details, tap outside to close.
All-years view shows the median across available years per calendar day. Individual year views show actual measured values. Methodology →
Smoking-aware mode is optional. Turn it on only if you want combined smoking + air burden estimates.
Berkeley Earth conversion: 22 µg/m³ PM2.5 ≈ 1 cigarette/day. Statistical communication tool — not a clinical diagnosis.
Planning estimate from monthly median PM2.5 values. Air-equivalent burden is additive and does not replace smoking burden.
Based on monthly median PM2.5 values. Actual exposure varies by fit, wear time, location, activity, and daily conditions. Methodology →
Seoul is the cleanest city in our dataset and one of the few where outdoor jogging is safe on the majority of days year-round. Annual median PM2.5 of 13.5 µg/m³ is below the WHO 24-hour guideline of 15 µg/m³, and September's 7.0 µg/m³ median is genuinely exceptional urban air quality.
This achievement reflects sustained policy: Korea's clean air programmes since the 1990s, vehicle emission standards, and industrial controls have steadily reduced domestic pollution. The remaining burden comes largely from transboundary transport—primarily from China.
The yellow dust season (March–May) is Seoul's most significant pollution window. Gobi and Taklamakan desert dust mobilised by spring westerly cyclones crosses China and arrives in Korea laden with additional anthropogenic pollution picked up en route. March median: 25.6 µg/m³. Individual days can see PM2.5 spike above 50 µg/m³; these episodes are tracked and forecast by Korea Meteorological Administration.
Winter (November–February) brings moderate elevation from coal combustion in northeastern China transported by northwest winds. Seoul's annual median 1.13 years of life expectancy lost is the lowest of any city we track—but seasonal peaks still warrant precaution. September and October are the clearest months; summer monsoon (July–August) is close behind at 7–9 µg/m³.
Data: OpenAQ API v3 · WHO 2021 AQI Guidelines · Berkeley Earth · Methodology →