The hypothetical situation of the major earthquakes in Korea can provide with abundant assumptions of damages after the disasters. In this sense, checking the precedent examples of the disasters will clearly help delineate the picture of the virtual reality of the earthquake disasters in the Korean peninsula. There are two examples of earthquakes which can present vivid samples.
Case 1. 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
- It was a major quake that struck San Francisco Bay area with the magnitude of 7.9
- Death toll: approximately 3,000 people.
- Property losses from the disaster was estimated to be more than $400 million.
- Throughout the Japanese National Police Agency, 14,981 deaths, 5,297 injured, and 9,853 missing people.
- As well as 125,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed.
- Insured loss ranged from $14.5 million to $34.6 million.
"Haeundae"- a Korean simulated disaster film produced in 2009.The movie begins with one scientist's assumption that a submarine earthquake and mega tsunami will hit east coast of the Korean peninsula. If the magnitude 6.5 earthquake hits Busan, the Haeundae beach will be destroyed in shorter than 10 minutes by 700km/h speed of tsunami wave which followed by the earthquake. Once Tsushima Island is sunk by the submarine earthquake and tidal wave, Korea has a high possibility of being located on the epicenter. Levy and Salvadori stated that tectonic plates move about 50mm per year over the mentle, which is driven by convection currents, “the upward movement of heated particles rising thought the mantle from the earth’s molten core.”(Levi, 24) Even “the constant movement of the tectonic plates is resisted along their convergent boundaries by the friction between their rough edges, just as two bricks resist sliding when pushed one against the other.”(Levi, 26-27) As a result, strain generates stress to construct the boundary till stress level gets high enough to control the plate’s friction. In the end, the sudden earthquake occurs. (Levy et al, 1995) In this sense, the scientist mentioned that constant tectonic plate movement has progressed under Haeundae beach. Moreover, “rising sea surface temperatures, at the very least, are having a cataclysmic impact on the marine food chain in the offshore California Current.” (Davis, 25) Similarly, Tsushiama Current may bring this type of effect to Haeundae area. On the contrary, other scientists claimed that Japan functioned as a breakwater of Korea. So Korea does not have to seriously worry about the outcomes of disasters. Unfortunately, the epicenter shifted closer to Korea and many casualties and destruction occurred. Even though the movie is full of simulated situations the graphic scenes in the movie are so real that the messages are strong enough for the Koreans to realize the impending peril of the earthquakes. Actually, Haeundae is a beach area in the city of Busan located on the south-eastern tip of the Korean peninsula. Millions of tourists resort here all year round. Thus, it is densely populated and the tall buildings of hotels and apartments are clustered along the beach. The movie tries to show the vulnerability of this place against the natural disaster, tsunami. The main point here in relation to the theme of this paper is in that one of the characters in the movie is described to know the phenomenon of the disaster as follows: “Hwi notices that the East Sea (Sea of Japan) is displacing the similar activity of 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. However, the Disaster Prevention Agency assures him that Korea is at not risk.” (Korea Movie Critique) Actually, in the movie, a mega tsunami forms near Japan and starts to travel at 500 miles towards Haeundae. There was a short earthquake shaking, too. In the climax, the wave starts to sweep the shore and people run for their lives. The tsunami reaches Haeundae and the streets are quickly flooded and many buildings collapse. The people and the cars on the Gwangan Bridge are swept away by the huge wave. The movie ends with the scene of the devastated ruins of Haeundae. Then, what would happen if there were a real earthquake and tsunami in Haeundae just like the movie “Tidal Wave”? Without a doubt, the damage would be humongous, possibly much more serious than Tohoku area. The casualty and the death toll could be much higher than those of 3.11 the great Tohoku earthquake.
Apart from the concern of the earthquake, there is another anxiety among Koreans about the future disaster in the Korean peninsula. As is known, volcanic eruption and earthquakes are in sister and brother relationship. Both of them are fundamentally related to tectonic movements. Case 2. 3. 11 Japan Earthquake In this sense, if a powerful earthquake hit the Korean peninsula, it goes without saying that the damage could be enormous. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Korea, “If an earthquake with magnitude of 6.5 hit Seoul, the death toll could reach 7,700 with 107,500 casualties and an extra 104,000 losing their homes. If the magnitude even rises to 7.0, 50,000 people could die and another 620,000 could be severely injured.” (NEMA Report) Another report from a member of National Assembly, Park Young-ah, revealed the fact “that 18.4 percent of buildings and installations nationwide were earthquake-resistant, leaving the rest vulnerable to a natural disaster like earthquake.” (Korean National Assembly Report) Park also said in her report “that out of 1.7 million buildings mandated to be designed earthquake-resistant, 81.6 percent of them did not meet the government rules.” (Park’s Report) In the last part of her report, she gave the warning to the people of Korea. “As we see in Japan’s case earthquakes come without notice. The only way to minimize the damage is to prepare against it ahead. However, most scientists in Korea tend to have believed that the chances of major earthquakes are slim because Korea is merely located in seismologically safe area. The physical location of Korea is far from “The Ring of Fire” in the Pacific Ocean and the Japanese archipelago actually blocks the risks from the Korean peninsula.”(Park’s Report) It seems that a shockwave from the earthquake usually reactivate magma beneath the mountain. In Korea, pubic concerns are looming over the possible eruptions of volcanic Baekdu Mountain located on the border between North Korea and China.Baekdu Mountain is the highest mountain on the Korean peninsula famous for its spectacular caldera filled with heavenly lake. But as tranquil as it may seem, the volcano is not dormant but active, having a high possibility of erupting within the next couple of years. Geologists warn that the time for the next eruption is drawing near. “Mt. Baekdu could erupt anytime soon,” said geologist Yoon Sung-hyo at Busan National University, who was monitored the mountain for any chances. “A variety of indicators are backing this scenario. The thing we should try to predict is when. It’s clear it’s imminent.” (Yoon Sung-hyo, EBS)
If the eruption happened in a large scale, it would bring about the massive consequences to the Korean peninsula as well as the surrounding states including China, Japan, and Russia. Professor Hong at Yonsei University at department of earth system science in Seoul states that “ The amount of volcanic ash from the most violent eruption nearly 1,000 year ago was enough to cover the entire the Korean peninsula to a height of 1.2 meters,” he said, citing scientific studies. “Baekdu’s caldera contains nearly two billion tons of water. If it evaporates into the air all of a sudden mixed with volcanic ash of a major eruption, it would be blown to the east and consequently engulf Vladivostok in Russia and Hokkaido in northern Japan.”The main point is that if Baekdu Mountain erupts, the damage will be much more severe than any other eruptions in the world.
Apart from the concern of the earthquake, there is another anxiety among Koreans about the future disaster in the Korean peninsula. As is known, volcanic eruption and earthquakes are in sister and brother relationship. Both of them are fundamentally related to tectonic movements. Case 2. 3. 11 Japan Earthquake In this sense, if a powerful earthquake hit the Korean peninsula, it goes without saying that the damage could be enormous. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Korea, “If an earthquake with magnitude of 6.5 hit Seoul, the death toll could reach 7,700 with 107,500 casualties and an extra 104,000 losing their homes. If the magnitude even rises to 7.0, 50,000 people could die and another 620,000 could be severely injured.” (NEMA Report) Another report from a member of National Assembly, Park Young-ah, revealed the fact “that 18.4 percent of buildings and installations nationwide were earthquake-resistant, leaving the rest vulnerable to a natural disaster like earthquake.” (Korean National Assembly Report) Park also said in her report “that out of 1.7 million buildings mandated to be designed earthquake-resistant, 81.6 percent of them did not meet the government rules.” (Park’s Report) In the last part of her report, she gave the warning to the people of Korea. “As we see in Japan’s case earthquakes come without notice. The only way to minimize the damage is to prepare against it ahead. However, most scientists in Korea tend to have believed that the chances of major earthquakes are slim because Korea is merely located in seismologically safe area. The physical location of Korea is far from “The Ring of Fire” in the Pacific Ocean and the Japanese archipelago actually blocks the risks from the Korean peninsula.”(Park’s Report) It seems that a shockwave from the earthquake usually reactivate magma beneath the mountain. In Korea, pubic concerns are looming over the possible eruptions of volcanic Baekdu Mountain located on the border between North Korea and China.Baekdu Mountain is the highest mountain on the Korean peninsula famous for its spectacular caldera filled with heavenly lake. But as tranquil as it may seem, the volcano is not dormant but active, having a high possibility of erupting within the next couple of years. Geologists warn that the time for the next eruption is drawing near. “Mt. Baekdu could erupt anytime soon,” said geologist Yoon Sung-hyo at Busan National University, who was monitored the mountain for any chances. “A variety of indicators are backing this scenario. The thing we should try to predict is when. It’s clear it’s imminent.” (Yoon Sung-hyo, EBS)
If the eruption happened in a large scale, it would bring about the massive consequences to the Korean peninsula as well as the surrounding states including China, Japan, and Russia. Professor Hong at Yonsei University at department of earth system science in Seoul states that “ The amount of volcanic ash from the most violent eruption nearly 1,000 year ago was enough to cover the entire the Korean peninsula to a height of 1.2 meters,” he said, citing scientific studies. “Baekdu’s caldera contains nearly two billion tons of water. If it evaporates into the air all of a sudden mixed with volcanic ash of a major eruption, it would be blown to the east and consequently engulf Vladivostok in Russia and Hokkaido in northern Japan.”The main point is that if Baekdu Mountain erupts, the damage will be much more severe than any other eruptions in the world.
