South Korea NOW! The Strongest Earthquake of the Year Hits S. Korea

On June 12, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck near the southwestern county of Buan in North Jeolla Province, marking the strongest tremor recorded on the Korean Peninsula this year. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reported that the earthquake hit at 8:26 a.m., 204 kilometers south of Seoul at a depth of 8 kilometers. At 9 a.m., eight aftershocks with magnitudes below 2 had been recorded.

In response to the earthquake, the Ministry of the Interior raised the alert level at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.

The earthquake led to the suspension or shortening of classes in several schools across South Korea. A total of five schools reported damage to their facilities, including a collapsed cafeteria ceiling in an elementary school and a destroyed room in a middle school in Buan.

By noon on Wednesday, more than 290 reports of vibrations had been received nationwide, with the majority coming from the Jeolla and Chungcheong areas, as well as reports from the Gyeonggi area and seven from Seoul.

Experts have warned that an earthquake of up to magnitude 7 could occur anywhere on the Korean Peninsula. Despite the Honam region’s reputation for having the most stable geological structure, it remains relatively unexamined for faults.

"An earthquake of about 4.8 magnitude can occur anywhere in Korea, and especially large earthquakes can occur even in the Seoul metropolitan area where there are faults," said Kim Young-seok, a professor of geology at Pukyong National University. "Geological research and preparation are urgently needed."

The increase in global seismic activity raises important questions about the causes of this rise and the necessity for public understanding. Answers to these pressing issues can be found in the materials from the forum “Global Crisis. The Responsibility.”