Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea ISSN:1229-3059(Print) 2287-2302(Online) 한국전산구조공학회 논문집

Since the first documented earthquake in 1978, South Korea has experienced a steady increase in seismic activity, with over 2,100 earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or greater recorded by 2022. Notable events such as the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake (M 5.8) and the 2017 Pohang earthquake (M 5.4) have highlighted the country’s vulnerability to seismic hazards. In response, the Korean government has introduced a series of Earthquake Disaster Prevention Master Plans, culminating in the third and current version. Despite ongoing efforts, these plans have primarily concentrated on seismic reinforcement strategies designed to prevent structural collapse, rather than maintaining the operational functionality of critical infrastructure during and after seismic events. This study analyzes the progression and limitations of South Korea’s earthquake policies, emphasizing the shortcomings of uniform retrofit approaches and the insufficient adoption of advanced methods such as seismic isolation and energy dissipation systems. Drawing on both domestic and international case studies, the research proposes a range of improvements, including performance-based design guidelines, function-preserving retrofit measures, and the expanded application of hybrid seismic technologies. The findings offer practical policy and engineering insights aimed at enhancing national resilience against future seismic events.