Week 13: Coastal Hazards

South Korea faces numerous coastal hazards due to its location, being surrounded by water on three sides. The east coast, in particular, is grappling with serious issues related to coastal erosion, driven by factors such as rising sea levels, storm surges from typhoons, and various coastal development projects. Over the past few decades, the region has seen an alarming increase in high storm waves, which have resulted in casualties, beach erosion, and significant damage to coastal infrastructure, capturing the public's attention.

Coastal erosion is a pressing concern for the nation. A national survey conducted in 2023 found that 43.3 percent of coastal areas were rated as either “at risk” or “severe” for erosion.

The rate of concern regarding coastal erosion—including both at-risk and severe areas—has been on the rise, climbing from 55.2 percent in 2017 to 62.4 percent in 2020. However, since 2021, the figures have stabilized in the 40 percent range, attributed to an increase in the number of surveyed areas, which jumped from 250 to 360. Hence, this decline does not necessarily indicate that erosion has lessened.

Satellite images show Haseong Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, rated "severe" for erosion. The images, from 2017, above, and 2023, show sand loss due to erosion following the installation of an underwater breakwater in 2020 as part of a private thermal power plant development project.

Mitigation effort:

One of the main hurdles in addressing coastal hazards is the budget. The South Korean government has not given enough attention to the threats facing its coastlines. A vital first step toward effective mitigation is to allocate adequate funds to implement a comprehensive plan.

To tackle the issue of beach erosion in Korea, a thorough approach has been suggested. Namae Beach, located on the east coast, has suffered significant erosion, leading to the loss of one of its essential functions as a sandy beach. Additionally, the structures situated behind the shoreline have sustained severe damage from the resulting high waves. The coastal protection initiatives at Namae Beach are managed by the Disaster Overall Prevention System. Given the complex nature of the problem, a hybrid method has been chosen to help prevent further erosion. Beach nourishment is proposed as the primary countermeasure, while secondary measures include building submerged breakwaters and groins made of artificial rock. This strategy is deemed the most effective approach to combat beach erosion, taking into account the economic and environmental conditions at Namae Beach.

Sources:

https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/9789814277426_0390?srsltid=AfmBOorpvtSEQrRSg6LvRp8rBxTLMFCsgdD6cJmm0psRqkBlqjVJl6uo

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/environment-animals/20241008/koreas-coastlines-continue-to-shrink-43-of-areas-at-risk-of-severe-coastal-erosion



Comments

  1. Sandra Diaz-GuerreroMay 2, 2025 at 8:45 PM

    Hello,
    Great post! My country Iceland and South Korea both face coastal hazards but their challenges differ. South Korea mainly deals with coastal erosion caused by rising sea levels, storm surges and development, especially on the east coast. The country monitors erosion through surveys and uses measures like beach nourishment and artificial breakwaters. Iceland faces glacial outburst floods and rising sea levels with coastal changes monitored through satellite altimetry and GPS. While both countries have government-led initiatives for protection, Iceland focuses on glacier retreat and volcanic activity while South Korea addresses erosion and storm waves. Despite these differences, both countries are actively working on coastal hazard mitigation.

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