Characteristics of Damaging Earthquakes Occurred in Seoul Metropolitan Area for the Last Two Thousand Years

Abstract

Abstract:The Seoul metropolitan area is densely populated with 40 percent of Korean people and quite weak to the seismic hazard. According to the analysis of historical documents, the largest earthquake occurred in this area is MMI VIII-IX acompanying with a large shaking, collapse of stone walls, collapse of houses, and many casualties. Two times of damaging earthquakes occurred in the first century (A.D. 27, 89), and there was a long quiet period of about 1430 years. Another big earthquakes re-occurred three times in the 16-17 century (1518, 1613, 1692) and then a quiet period has continued to the present time. Just after Seoul earthquake in 1518, aftershocks occurred almost 19 days consecutively and many triggered earthquakes occurred not only in Seoul metropolitan area but also in Hwanghae province, northern Korea. It indicates that the largest potential earthquake in and around Seoul is MMI VIII-IX with a long occurrence period of about 1400-1500 years.

Earthquake‐Spawning Faults in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and Their Seismic Implications

“…Previous studies report devastating historical earthquakes in the Korean Peninsula (Kyung, 2012; Park et al., 2020). The historical seismicity displays high similarity with the instrumental seismicity (Hong et al., 2018; Houng & Hong, 2013; Park et al., 2020) (Figure 1c).…”

“…There is increasing concern regarding possible large earthquakes in the peninsula. There were seismic intensities reaching VII‐IX according to historical seismic damages (Kyung, 2012; K. Lee & Yang, 2006; Park et al., 2020). There were large earthquakes in the Korean Peninsula, including the Seoul metropolitan area (Park et al., 2020).…”

“…Quaternary faults including the Chugaryeong fault are located in the Seoul metropolitan area (H. Choi et al., 2012; Chung et al., 2014). The presence of Quaternary faults raises public concerns regarding possible seismic damages in the Seoul metropolitan area (Kyung, 2012; Park et al., 2020).…”

“…According to instrumental earthquake records, the seismicity is low around the Seoul metropolitan area. However, historical seismic‐damage records suggest the occurrence of devastating earthquakes in the region (Houng & Hong, 2013; Kyung, 2012; Park et al., 2020). The magnitudes of large historical earthquakes might be as large as ∼ M L 6.8 (Park et al., 2020).…”

Recent Observations of Micro-earthquakes and Its Implications for Seismic Risk in the Seoul Metropolitan Region, Korea

“…Located away from any plate boundaries, the Korean peninsula is regarded as a typical region of intraplate seismicity. Recent review on damaging historic earthquakes in SMR revealed the largest potential earthquake in the area is MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) VIII-IX with a long recurrence interval of about 1400-1500 years (Kyung, 2012). Large earthquakes in the SMR and Korean peninsula have been rare during modern instrumental earthquake recording that began 1905.…”