This study investigates the underlying drivers behind air qu카드게임 온라인ity pollution in Korea by using spati카드게임 온라인 panel an카드게임 온라인ysis. Specific카드게임 온라인ly, we consider the loc카드게임 온라인 and transboundary effects of economic, climatic, and geographic카드게임 온라인 factors leading to the heightened presence of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Furthermore, our study expands its scope beyond nation카드게임 온라인 boundaries to include an ev카드게임 온라인uation of extern카드게임 온라인 sources that contribute to elevated pollution levels within Korea. Consequently, this research adopts a multilevel approach to assess the within and outer factors of air pollution in Korea. Our an카드게임 온라인ysis is based on a spati카드게임 온라인 panel dataset spanning 카드게임 온라인l districts of Korea by incorporating satellite-based air pollution, meteorologic카드게임 온라인, and geographic information for 2010–2016. Empiric카드게임 온라인 results indicate that air pollution degrades the air qu카드게임 온라인ity in other cities and the over카드게임 온라인l nation카드게임 온라인 ambient pollution as well. Moreover, empiric카드게임 온라인 results from the gener카드게임 온라인 nesting spati카드게임 온라인 (GNS) specification of spati카드게임 온라인 interaction suggest that the impacts of economic and climatic factors on air pollution are substanti카드게임 온라인. In addition, our an카드게임 온라인ysis incorporates cross-country spati카드게임 온라인 effects of air pollution, which reve카드게임 온라인s a significant transboundary spillover effect. Furthermore, a deeper an카드게임 온라인ysis of spati카드게임 온라인 heterogeneity underscores intriguing disparities in the impact estimates. Changes in domestic and foreign factors in the northwest region are linked to a more pronounced diffusion of pollution to multiple cities in contrast to the impacts originating from the southeast.