The USGS initially reported the earthquake as a magnitude 4.3

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), a magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Buan County in North Jeolla Province, South Korea, at 8:26 a.m. on June 12th. The epicenter was located 4 kilometers south-southwest of Buan County, at a depth of 8 kilometers.

The quake's tremors were felt widely, with the KMA reporting seismic intensities of 5 in North Jeolla, 4 in South Jeolla, and 3 in parts of South Gyeongsang, North Gyeongsang, Gwangju, Daejeon, Sejong, Incheon, South Chungcheong, and North Chungcheong.

This earthquake is the strongest to hit the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding waters this year. It ranks as the 16th strongest earthquake since the KMA began seismic monitoring in 1978, and the 12th strongest since digital monitoring started in 1999. The last time a quake over magnitude 4.5 struck South Korea was on May 15th last year, off the coast of Donghae, Gangwon Province.

The quake caused widespread concern, with 198 reports of tremors received nationwide by 8:40 a.m., according to the National Fire Agency. Reports included 62 in North Jeolla, 27 in South Chungcheong, 24 in North Chungcheong, 14 in Daejeon, 14 in Gwangju, and 14 in South Jeolla, as well as 23 in Gyeonggi, 2 in North Gyeongsang, and 2 in Busan.

In response, the Korea Meteorological Administration upgraded the earthquake's magnitude from 4.7 to 4.8 shortly after the initial report. The tremors measured seismic intensities of V (5) in North Jeolla, IV (4) in South Jeolla, and III (3) in other regions.

South Korea's second-highest official, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, convened an emergency meeting to address the situation. He instructed officials to prepare for potential aftershocks, ensure safe evacuation procedures, and protect critical infrastructure such as power plants and transportation networks.

The earthquake also prompted numerous damage reports. Buan County reported four cases, including cracked walls and broken windows. Additional minor damages were reported in nearby Iksan. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.

Educational institutions in the affected areas also took precautions. Five schools reported structural damage, leading some to close temporarily or switch to remote learning. The central government activated Level 1 of the National Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, issuing an earthquake crisis alert at the 'caution' level.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, currently on a trip to Central Asia, was briefed on the earthquake and instructed relevant ministries to conduct swift safety inspections and disseminate accurate information to the public to prevent panic.