Recently, Japan has been experiencing record-breaking snowfall, paralyzing transportation and daily life. At the same time, concerns over the Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake have been growing, highlighting Japan as one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world. Given Korea’s geographical proximity to Japan, how safe is Korea from earthquakes? This article will analyze Korea’s geological structure, past earthquake occurrences, and compare Korea’s earthquake risk with Japan’s.
❄️ Record-Breaking Snowfall in Hokkaido and Rising Earthquake Concerns
Recently, in Obihiro City, Hokkaido, 120 cm of snow fell in just 12 hours, marking the highest recorded snowfall in Japan’s meteorological history. As a result, 31 schools in Hokkaido temporarily closed, and train operations were suspended. A passenger flight departing from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport was unable to land due to heavy snow on the runway and was forced to return to Tokyo.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has forecasted continued snowfall, predicting up to 140 cm in Hokkaido and 270 cm in the Hokuriku region. The extreme weather has led to road closures, flight cancellations, and widespread disruptions.
Meanwhile, concerns over a potential Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake are rising again. A recent magnitude 6.9 earthquake off the coast of Miyazaki has been linked to the Nankai Trough fault system, which experts warn has an 80% probability of generating a magnitude 8–9 earthquake within the next 30 years. In response, the Japanese government is enhancing disaster preparedness, and some experts have even raised concerns about a possible eruption of Mount Fuji, adding to the country’s natural disaster risks.
However, unlike Japan, Korea is considered relatively safe from frequent and powerful earthquakes. But how high is the earthquake risk in Korea?
Why Japan Experiences Frequent Earthquakes While Korea is Comparatively Safe
The difference in earthquake frequency and intensity between Japan and Korea stems from their geological structures.
Japan lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where multiple tectonic plates, including the Eurasian Plate, Pacific Plate, Philippine Sea Plate, and North American Plate, collide. This intense tectonic activity results in frequent and severe earthquakes.
In contrast, Korea is located within the Eurasian Plate, far from major plate boundaries. This means that tectonic movements are relatively minimal. While Korea does have active faults, earthquakes here are generally smaller and less frequent than those in Japan.
Experts point out that while Korea is not completely free from earthquakes, areas such as Gyeongju and Pohang require enhanced seismic design and disaster preparedness due to higher risk levels. Recent studies using expert surveys and entropy weighting methods indicate that these regions have relatively higher seismic risk within Korea.
Earthquake History and Risk in Korea
Traditionally, Korea has been considered a low-risk country for earthquakes. However, seismic activity has been increasing in recent years. The 2016 Gyeongju earthquake (magnitude 5.8) and the 2017 Pohang earthquake (magnitude 5.4) are the most significant seismic events recorded in Korea. Notably, the Pohang earthquake was suspected to be induced by human activities, raising awareness of seismic risks in the country.
According to the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Korea could still experience mid-to-large earthquakes of magnitude 6.5–7.0. Certain areas, particularly Gyeongju and Pohang, have a higher probability of experiencing stronger earthquakes. As a result, experts emphasize the need to improve Korea’s early earthquake warning systems and strengthen seismic building codes.
Nonetheless, compared to Japan, Korea experiences far fewer and less intense earthquakes. Japan frequently experiences earthquakes above magnitude 7, and megaquakes of magnitude 8–9 occur approximately every 100–150 years. In Korea, earthquakes exceeding magnitude 6 are relatively rare.
How a Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake Could Affect Korea
If a megathrust earthquake were to occur in the Nankai Trough, Korea could also be impacted.
Historical records show that the 1707 Hoei earthquake in Japan triggered landslides and tsunami waves that affected Jeju Island in Korea. Additionally, strong earthquakes in western Japan can transmit seismic waves to the southern regions of the Korean Peninsula.
Recent earthquake studies suggest that if a large earthquake occurs in the Nankai Trough, tremors of intensity 4–5 on the Richter scale could be felt in southern Korea, leading to minor structural damage and potential small tsunami waves along the coastline. Therefore, Korea needs to closely monitor seismic activity in Japan.
Conclusion: Korea is Significantly Safer from Earthquakes than Japan
Overall, Korea is much safer from earthquakes compared to Japan. While Japan is located at the convergence of multiple tectonic plates, leading to frequent and powerful earthquakes, Korea is situated in the interior of the Eurasian Plate, making seismic activity less common and less intense.
However, past incidents like the Gyeongju and Pohang earthquakes highlight the need for continued vigilance. Studies indicate that Korea may still experience mid-sized earthquakes, emphasizing the importance of strengthening seismic building codes, developing an advanced earthquake early warning system, and raising public awareness.
That said, the likelihood of Korea experiencing a magnitude 8 or higher earthquake, like those in Japan, remains extremely low. Thus, while Korea must take earthquake preparedness seriously, it remains a relatively safe country compared to its neighbor, Japan.
References
- "Current Status and Countermeasures for Earthquakes in Korea" (Kim Hae-won, Jung Hye-seong, 2016)
- "Causes and Countermeasures of Earthquakes in the Korean Peninsula" (Yang Won-jik, 2016)
- "Korea is Not an Earthquake-Free Zone" (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, 2020)
- "Seismic Risk Assessment Using Expert Surveys and Entropy Weighting Methods" (Kim Geum-ji, 2021)
