  | |
| Local date | 12 June 1681 |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | Mw7.5 |
| Epicenter | 37°54′N 128°30′E / 37.9°N 128.5°E |
| Max. intensity | JMA 7 |
| Casualties | 1 dead |
The 1681 Yangyang earthquake which occurred on 12 June is one of the largest earthquake to affect the Korean Peninsula. This earthquake with an estimated moment magnitude of 7.5 occurred during the Joseon dynasty with an epicenter off the east coast of present-day South Korea.
Impact
[edit]The earthquake's effects were recorded in the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty. It caused widespread damage in Kangwon Province; many homes built with mud walls collapsed and their roof tiles fell. The Sinheungsa temple on Seoraksan was also destroyed. Rockfalls were reported in the areas of Pyeongchang and Jeongseon. An investigation of rockfall deposits at Seoraksan suggest they formed in recent times rather than prehistoric and may have been caused by the earthquake. Descriptions of the sea being "swept" at Yangyang, near the coast, were interpreted as a seaquake and suggested an epicenter offshore.[1] The journal documented the withdrawal of the sea at the coast by 50 to 60 pace, and in some areas, up to 100 pace.[2] These have been interpreted as descriptions of a tsunami backwash and further supported a seismic source offshore.[3] The only report of a person killed was from Seoul where an individual died after falling off a horse during the earthquake.[4]
Geology
[edit]Based on the distribution of damage reports and assessing their intensity on the JMA seismic intensity scale, a moment magnitude of 7.5 was estimated. Seismic intensity level 5 or higher was recorded along the coast in a north–south trend for 200 km (120 mi) while the maximum intensity was 7. There were 3 foreshocks recorded 14 days before the mainshock and 6 damaging aftershocks until February 1682.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Chu, Kyo-Sung; Baag, Chang-Eob; Tsuji, Yoshinobu (2005). "Study on the Largest Earthquake in Korean Territory － the Korean East Coast Earthquake of June 26, 1681" 韓半島で発生した最大級の地震 －1681 年 6 月韓国東海岸地震 (PDF). 歴史地震 (in Japanese). 20: 169–182.
- ^ Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty. Vol. 11. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ Ha, Taemin; Yoon, Jae-Seon; Kyung, Jai Bok; Yoon, Seok-Hoon; Lee, Dong-Woo; Kim, Kwang-Hee (2022). "Occurrence of Local Tsunamis Along the Eastern Coast of the Korean Peninsula Based on Numerical Modeling of Historical Earthquakes". Frontiers in Earth Science. 10. Bibcode:2022FrEaS..10.6168H. doi:10.3389/feart.2022.836168.
- ^ Lee, Duk Kee; Li, Yuche; Yang, Jun-Mo; Youn, Yong-Hoon (2004). "Analysis Study on the Earthquakes Occurred at June 12,17,26, 1681 in the Offshore Between the Yangyang and Samcheok Counties, Gangwon Province, Korea" 1681년 6월 12일, 17일, 그리고 26일 양양-삼척 근해에서 발생한 지진기록의 분석 (PDF). 지구물리 (in Korean). 7 (2): 89–97.