South Korea to shut a quarter of its coal-fired plants over winter to cut pollution

Plants will close during coldest months in a bid to reduce high levels of fine dust particles

South Korea will temporarily shut down up to a quarter of its coal-fired power plants next month in an attempt to combat dangerously high levels of fine dust pollution.

The country's energy ministry said 14 plants would be idled between December and February, and as many as 27 in March, but added that the closures would not affect energy supplies during the coldest months of the year.