The Seoul Metropolitan Government will begin issuing yellow and ultrafine dust warning alerts and guidelines to international schools in Seoul in six languages, the city announced Wednesday.

Some 12,000 foreign teachers and students at 22 international kindergartens and schools will begin receiving dust alerts and guidelines in English, Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Mongolian from next month.

Foreign teachers will receive text message alerts whenever a yellow dust or ultrafine dust warning is issued. The schools will be advised to follow due procedures set by the city, such as shortening classes or closing down for the day, according to different warning levels.

“The city decided to expand its dust alert system to include international schools in a move to better protect the health of our foreign students,” a Seoul City official said.

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)