• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 1971

The Korean Peninsula is located between the tectonically stable Asian Continent and the tectonically active Japanese islands. The east coast of Korea shows evidence of uplift whereas the west coast shows evidence of submergence. However, radiocarbon dates indicate that the rate of submergence of the west coast of Korea is slower than the tectonically stable east coast of North America. Therefore, both east and west coasts of Korea might have been uplifted during the last post-glacial period. This uplift may result the spreading line of the from compressional strain produced along East Sea of Korea (Japan Sea) and/or the conversion hinge line of the Pacific mantle convection current plunging beneath the Asian continent. This downturn is supposed to be located in the Japan Trench. High heat flow near the east coast of Korea produces the differential strain. This strain accelerates the compressional strain of the peninsula. The Sea Floor Spreading Theory can explain the tectonism of the Korean Peninsula in Recent time. Baek-Doo Mt. and Han-Ra Mt., dormant volcanoes, may be an evidence of westward movement of the Korean Peninsula.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2003

A 31m-long sediment core (SSDP-102) was taken from the inner shelf (about 40m water-depth) off the northwestern coast of the Korea Strait. Detailed lithofacies and organic-geochemical analyses were performed to establish a high-resolution stratigraphy in the Korea Strait shelf and to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental changes associated with the Holocene marine transgression. The stratigraphic framework of the core was primarily established using 6 AMS $^{14}C$ ages. The sedimentary record of the core SSDP-102 allows for the reconstruction of the paleoenvironmental changes during the last 12.1 ka BP. According to the high-resolution seismic reflection profiles, lithofacies and organic-geochemical data, the core SSDP-102 can be divided into three units (III to I in ascending order) above the acoustic basement. The three units reflect distinct changes of depositional environments resulted from the post-glacial marine transgression. Therefore, it is suggested that three phases of sea-level change have occurred within the inner shelf of the Korea Strait following the Holocene marine transgression. (1) estuarine environments from ca. 12.1 to 6.2 ka BP; (2) near-shore environments with a period of decreased rising of sea level between 6.2 and 5.1 ka BP; (3) near-shore to modem marine environments after 5.1 ka BP. In particular, the present marine conditions influenced by the warm Tsushima Current have been gradually established after ca. 5.1 ka BP.