Abstract Nitrogen oxides detected in urban regions are primarily emitted by transportation methods and are crucial precursors for air pollutants and climate forcers such as ozone and fine particulate matter. We investigate the trends of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) obtained from a satellite instrument and surface monitors over the megacity, Seoul, South Korea, from 2005 to 2019. Both satellite Ozone Monitoring Instrument NO₂ and surface in situ concentrations decreased by up to 30% between 2015 and 2019 while significant trends were not observed between 2005 and 2015. Further analysis shows the continual reduction of NO₂ concentrations prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This study highlights the efficacy of South Korean pollution control policies targeting vehicular emissions. However, this study also found inconsistencies between trends observed in the official bottom-up emission inventory and data collected from space and surface sites. Further research will be urgently needed to understand the causes for the discrepancies.