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5.8 Magnitude Earthquake in Gyeongju, Govt. Response Judged Lax

Article From Yonhap News:

[5.8 magnitude earthquake] The Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) has announced that “6.0 magnitude earthquake could occur anytime

Urgent meeting concludes, “An earthquake over 6.5 in magnitude is unlikely.”

The earthquake that struck Gyeongju is presumed to have stopped. The aftershocks have continued, but the size and frequency diminished.’

Epicenter and magnitude distribution chart.

Epicenter and magnitude distribution chart.

The KMA has concluded that the largest earthquake ever [to strike the Korean peninsula], a 5.8 magnitude with an epicenter in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk Province has stopped and will not continue.

However, the KMA predicted that an over 6.0 magnitude earthquake is likely to occur, which would be the biggest earthquake ever recorded [on the peninsula].

On September 13th, Go Yoonhwa, KMA chairperson, reported this information in a consultative meeting for emergency earthquake preparedness held in the National Assembly.

Go announced that “The earthquake is likely to stop. However, from now on there is a higher risk of an earthquake of magnitude 5.8 to 6.0, or even greater. It could happen anytime.”

Go also added, “An earthquake of magnitude over 6.5 is less likely.”

Major stratum around Gyeongju

Major stratum around Gyeongju

Regarding the earthquake that hit Gyeongju on the 13th, he explained that, “So far, there have been about 186 aftershocks, but their size and frequency are diminishing.”

Go also added that, “It is hard to predict for how long the aftershocks will continue. They could continue for days, so we’re keeping our eyes on the situation.”

“Opinions are divided on [what caused the earthquake]. Some experts think it resulted from an earthquake in Eastern Japan, others disagree and there are also other ideas,” he explained.

Article From Yonhap News:

2.4 magnitude earthquake in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk Province with 310 aftershocks

On the 14th at around 10:31 p.m., a 2.4 magnitude earthquake hit 10 km towards south-southwest of Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk Province.

The KMA announced that this earthquake is one of the aftershocks from the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred on the 12th.

A KMA representative reported that, “No damage from the earthquake has been reported thus far”.

He also added that, “Though the aftershocks continue after the larger earthquake on the 12th, as they are mostly under 3.0 in magnitude, there isn’t much need to worry.”

According to the KMA, by 10 p.m. a total of the 310 aftershocks occurred in Gyeongju.

If they are divided by their sizes, there were 295 aftershocks with a magnitude of between 1.5 and 3.0, 14 between 3.0 and 4.0, and 1 between 4.0 and 5.0.

Comments From Naver:


Reading the KMA report that an earthquake is likely to happen makes me relaxed. I know they are always wrong…


Stop saying you guys are keeping your eyes on the situation ke ke ke What have you done so far?


Now that KMA has reported that the earthquake stopped, it will start again after a short break.


Do they think there are many buildings in Korea built to resist a 6.0 magnitude earthquake?


The organization that can’t even forecast the daily weather now talks about an earthquake ke ke Our neighbor Japan, where earthquake occurs so frequently, can’t predict earthquakes like that even though they have decades of experience. You can call it a success if an earthquake is detected even a couple of minutes before it happens.


I remember the news I watched. One month ago experts suggested that we should consider creating some response measures as the number of the earthquakes was odd. The KMA responded, “There is nothing special about these occurrences.”


People with a lack of readiness said they know it can happen anytime. The first earthquake occurred around 7:40 pm and the first briefing wasn’t until 9:20 pm. Wow, it couldn’t be faster… tsk tsk.


Go also added ‘A magnitude over 6.5 earthquake is less likely to happen.’ How can he conclude that an over 6.5 magnitude earthquake is not going to happen when the KMA can’t predict it?? He appears to say that just because nuclear power plants can withstand up to a 6.5 magnitude earthquake. I can’t trust what he said at all. Will he take responsibility for what he said? Government organizations are not trustworthy…


Give up your pride and hire Japanese geological experts to ask advice. Among Korean experts, analysis and solution change according to where they came from and which university they graduated from.


The earthquake is likely to stop. However, there is a risk of a 6.0 magnitude earthquake. They really know how to play with their words.

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  • InfoPeninsula

    Korean Peninsula is not part of Earthquake zone areas. Why is it happening in Korea now??? This is what Korean Government should educate Koreans about Earthquake.

  • Miss.

    has this website been abandoned?

    • George W Trombley Jr.

      I used to check this quite often…. but that earthquake story is 8 months old. It certainly seems abandoned. It’s sad because I thought this site was pretty cool.
