摘要：The close relation between atmospheric pollution and human health has been well documented. Accordingly, various policies have been enacted worldwide to reduce and regulate air pollution, with most countries having established correlated monitoring systems. Notably in South Korea, increasing concerns about particulate matter (PM) concentrations led to the establishment of a nationwide forecasting and warning system in 2014. In this study, the PM trends in South Korea over the past decade were examined, and the correlated social issues were analyzed. In addition, the relationships between PM concentration, the forecasting–warning system, and people’s urban park use were analyzed to assess the efficacy of policy introduction. The results indicated that PM concentrations were an obstacle to outdoor activities, and the PM forecasting–warning system affected urban park use. Whereas the effects of PM forecasting and warning systems have not been sufficiently explored in practical terms in the literature, this study could be significant in proving the validity of environmental policies through the evidence including urban park visitors. This study also suggests future directions for developing PM forecasting and warning systems.
