Emergency fine dust reduction measures are being enforced in the greater metro area on Thursday as air pollution reached alarmingly high levels.

The Environment Ministry said it issued fine dust advisories for Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon effective from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, enforcing a series of fine dust reduction measures. 

Under the measures, grade five emissions vehicles, those that are the most pollutive according to the government's five-tier system, will be banned from operation in the capital region.  

Businesses and facilities that emit air pollutants have to adjust operations, while construction sites are required to reduce or adjust their operations and take steps to curb dust emissions. 

Fine dust levels are expected to remain high for the next few days.