Quaternary reactivation of Tertiary faults in the southeastern Korean Peninsula: Age constraint by optically stimulated luminescence dating

Abstract

Abstract Two groups of Quaternary faults occur in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. The first group is north‐northeast‐striking, high‐angle dextral strike–slip faults. The second group is north‐northeast‐striking, low‐angle reverse faults that represent the reactivation of the pre‐existing normal faults. Optically stimulated luminescence dating of Quaternary sediments cut by one of the reverse faults constrains the faulting age to post‐32 Ka. These faults seem to be capable of further slip under the current tectonic stress regime, as determined by recent earthquake events in northeast Asia. Therefore, the traditional concept that the southeastern Korean Peninsula is seismically stable should be reappraised.