Processes and challenges for the production of Korean active faults map. Journal of the Geological Society of Korea

Abstract

As the relationship between earthquakes and active faults is known, the necessity for the Korean active faults map has been raised. Therefore, the government recognized the necessity and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) carried out a research project to produce a Korean active faults map from 2009. Although the project had successfully been finished, it was not enough to get agreement among experts for opening to the public. As a result, a new project was planned to upgrade this map, but the progress was struggled due to the lack of government interest and budget. In 2016, the project has suddenly emerged due to the 2016 Ulsan sea earthquake and Gyeongju earthquake. This project basically adopted advanced research techniques to complete the whole Korean active faults map in four stages for 20 years from 2017 starting from the Gyeongju area. It will investigate potential active faults (Quaternary faults) throughout South Korea and will eventually produce a national active faults map. For effective investigation, the Korea Active Fault Research Group (KAFRG) has been set up with experts from the relevant majors required for active fault research. The research group traces, analyzes, and interprets potential active faults using not only the recent remote sensing data such as airborne-LiDAR, but also geomorphology, paleoseismology, Quaternary age dating and structural geology. The data will be databased and properly serviced to public institutions and to the public on the website. Although there were some hurdles due to the lack of understanding by the government and the public for such a research, the research system is gradually being established. However, the issue of private land permission for excavation survey, the lack of professional manpower, and the tracing of active faults in urban areas remain important tasks to be successfully solved in the future.