Worst air pollution Pohang, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Pohang is very poor. AQI and O3 are very poor; NO2 is poor; SO2 is medium; PM2.5, PM10, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 93.0/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Pohang is poor. AQI improves to poor; O3 decreases to fair; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 75.9/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
Use our Strava plugin to check your own exposure.
Pohang's air quality reflects the South Korean eastern Yeongnam coast on the East Sea, with vehicle traffic on surrounding expressways and the POSCO steel complex — one of the world's largest integrated steel mills — generating elevated industrial SO₂ and PM2.5 alongside vehicle sources. East Sea maritime breezes provide coastal ventilation, while the steel complex's extraordinary industrial scale relative to the urban population makes Pohang South Korea's most distinctively steel manufacturing-defined coastal urban environment throughout the year.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Very poor
93.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
16.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
73.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Very poor
93.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
43.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
14.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
14.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Poor
75.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
75.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
36.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
46.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
8.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
21.3/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Pohang right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Pohang is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 93.0/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 93.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Pohang?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Pohang will be better than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 75.9/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 75.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Pohang?
The biggest local contributors to pollution in Pohang are vehicle traffic, petrochemical and refining operations, together with light manufacturing, particularly once windblown dust events occur. These wind events can carry dust in from the surrounding arid landscape. Sea breezes typically keep conditions in check, except during still weather.
Are air quality levels in Pohang based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
Check air quality in other popular cities:
Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app