HONGSEONG — South Chungcheong Province is ramping up its efforts to ensure that thousands of small-scale factories comply with environmental regulations, offering financial assistance for mandatory Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring systems.

Under recent revisions to the Clean Air Conservation Act, businesses categorized as Class 4 or Class 5 air emission sites—those generating less than 10 tons of air pollutants annually—are legally required to install IoT measuring equipment by December 31.

To ease the financial pressure on small business owners, the provincial government is providing subsidies covering up to 60 percent of the installation expenses. The funding breaks down into 40 percent from national coffers and 20 percent from local budgets, leaving businesses responsible for the remaining 40 percent. Total expenses typically average around 4.5 million won per site, depending on facility scale and setup conditions.

The IoT devices track the real-time operational status of emission sources and pollution control facilities. Collected data is automatically transmitted to "GreenLink," a specialized management platform, allowing authorities to verify proper facility operation.

Province officials noted that approximately 3,700 businesses across the region fall under the Class 4 and 5 categories. Since 2019, Chungnam has actively backed these upgrades to bolster localized environmental management.

With the compliance deadline fast approaching, local authorities are intensifying outreach to unregistered sites. Officials warned that failure to install the mandatory equipment before the year concludes could result in administrative penalties and legal sanctions. Business owners seeking financial aid are encouraged to submit applications through their local municipal environmental departments.

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