The earthquake, centered about 100km northwest of West Gyeongnyeolbi Archipelago off Taean, was the fourth strongest quake on the Korean Peninsula since the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) began collecting relevant data in 1978.
No casualties or damage were reported.
The quake, which occurred at around 4:48 a.m., was strong enough to be felt by many residents in Seoul and adjacent areas as well as Daejeon and surrounding Chungcheong provinces. The tremor shook homes and other structures.
A large number of people reported through messages on SNS that they realized that it was an earthquake, and hundreds of people reported it to the authorities, KMA officials said.
A resident living in Jakjeon-dong, Incheon, about 40km west of Seoul, said: “I waked up as my bed shook.”
Historic records indicate that a powerful earthquake could occur anytime on the Korean Peninsula. Among the most notable earthquakes recorded on the peninsula was the one which, according to Samguksagi or the Historic Records of the Three Kingdoms, struck Gyeongju, the capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-935), in 779. Geologists say its magnitude is presumed to have been 8.0 or above.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com