• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2014

This study estimates geomorphological processes of fluvial terraces by uplifts and bedrock features, by the analyses of topography, distribution, formation age and incision rate of fluvial terraces using Gwang-cheon River in Uljin, Namdae-cheon River in Pyeonghae and Osip-cheon River in Yeongdeok located in the southern Taebaek Mountain Range. The tectonic and climatic terraces I in the upper reaches of Gwang-cheon River with an altitude from riverbed of 9~12m indicate the formation age of MIS 2 with a incision rate of 0.40m/ka. However, the tectonic and climatic terraces I in the upper reaches of Osip-cheon River with an altitude from riverbed of 7~10m show the formation age of MIS 3 with an incision rate of 0.10m/ka. These results suggest that the uplift rate in the Gwang-cheon River basin is likely to be higher than that in the Osip-cheon River basin. Unlike the lower reaches of Osip-cheon River, the thalassostatic terraces are not found in the lower reaches of Gwang-cheon River, because the basin has low maintainable ability of landforms in river valley due to high uplift rate and bedrock properties resistant to weathering and erosion. On the other hand, the lowest tectonic and climatic terraces in the study areas indicate different formative ages and the terraces during the cooling stage in interglacial as well as during interstadial are also found. Therefore, this study suggests that chronological method for fluvial terrace by the previous developmental model of climatic terrace should be reconsidered.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.222-236
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• 2002

The Osip-cheon river flowing on the east side of the Taeback mts. has formed river terraces on the several heights along the middle- and downstream. The river terraces are classified into 5 climatic ones and 7 thalassostatic ones. The thalassostatic ones are found to the height of 145-l50m level at 20-30m intervals. These vertical distribution is caused by the continuous uplift and periodical rise and fall of the sea-level. The high higher surfaces among the thalassostatic ones are the highest among those of Korea. The chronologies of the terraces are correlated to the marine oxygen isotope stages : The thalassostatic terraces on the level of 40 m.a.s.l. are to the stage 7, 70 m.a.s.l.. to the stage 9, 90 m.a.s.l. to the stage 9, 110 m.a.s.1. to the stage 11 and those of 150 m.a.s.1. to the stage 15 among the Interglacial Ages. The landuses and geomorphic landscapes of the Samchok area are chracteristic, because the karst landforms, such as doline and uvala, are developed on the surfaces of the middle-, the higher- and the high higher surfaces of river terrace.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2011

To reinterpret the meaning of fluvial terraces in the Quaternary researches, the concepts and geomorphic properties of fluvial terraces are reviewed. Fluvial terraces are the alluvial landform that was once river channel or floodplain by paleochannel flowed in elevated areas from the current river by active incision of rivers due to the climatic changes and/or uplifts. As fluvial terraces are the remnants of alluviums after incisions of rivers, the major factors influencing on the incisions are the falling of erosion base, increase of river discharge and distinct geomorphic phenomenon of river. While it is generally known that fluvial terraces deposits in the upper or middle reaches of large rivers were formed during glacial periods, the deposits may be formed at the various periods due to the diverse natural environments and geomorphic properties of specific rivers, because there have been numerous cases that the ages of fluvial terraces in the upper or middle reaches of large rivers in Korea and China can be correlated to the interglacial periods.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2013

In Korea, many paddy fields in mountainous area have been abandoned because of their low accessibility and rice price and the abandoned paddy terraces have changed into natural lentic wetlands. To understand the relationship between characteristics of environmental conditions and early development of plant community in abandoned paddy terraces, we investigated at four well-maintained abandoned paddy terraces in 3 different climatic zones in Korea. Soil texture of abandoned paddy terraces was mostly kinds of loam and electric conductivity of soil was also similar among abandoned paddy terraces. On the other hand, contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium in soil were relatively low and significantly different among abandoned paddy terraces. Water depth was different within sites and inter-sites. Although environmental conditions including climate, soil condition and water depth were different among abandoned paddy terraces, the compositions of plant communities were relatively similar in all abandoned paddy terraces. 55 dominant taxa out of 141 recorded species were commonly recorded over sites and they were mostly perennial obligate wetland plants and facultative wetland plants. 8 taxa out of 55 dominant taxa occurred at all abandoned paddy terraces with over 10% coverage. Several site-specific species occurred at site, which have some area with deep water level. This result indicates that early development of plant community in abandoned paddy terraces of similar water regime is similar in the entire area of Korea even though environmental conditions such as climate, biogeographic history and soil are different.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.17-33
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• 2011

This study summarizes the research history of fluvial terraces in Korea and examines the geomorphic properties of fluvial terraces in Korea based on the previous works. The research history of fluvial terraces in Korea can be divided into the three periods. The theories of fluvial terraces were spread by the early geomorphologists during the period of Japanese colonial era to mid-1980s. The dissertations on the fluvial terraces were intensively published during the late 1980s to 1990s and their discussions were the center of geomorphology researches in Korea. Since 2000s, the discussions have become more mature and researches have been quantitatively increased as the various methodologies have been developed. The fluvial terraces in Korea are mostly developed in the western and eastern parts of the Taebaek Mountains, upper and middle reaches of Han and Nakdong River, and in the western slopes of Sobaek Mountains, middle reaches of Namhan River, upper and middle reaches of Geum and Seomjin River. Along these rivers in actively uplifted areas, fluvial terraces with much higher altitude from riverbed are observable and incision rates are relatively high. In the sense of the formation ages, they have developed in not regular patterns by the climatic changes during the Quaternary, but in more complicated aspects by the environmental conditions such as climate, hydrology, geology and geomorphology in the specific drainage basins.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.71-81
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• 2001

According to the change of stream power/resisting power relationship due to the crustal movement or the climatic change, most channel landforms which reflect the equilibrium state of fluvial system are eroded and a part of them is remained as a river terrace. In many rivers in Korea are extensively distributed the relatively younger low river terraces. But their accurate formation mechanism is not known. In this paper, the formation processes and the dating of low river terraces distributed in Nakdong River basin will be investigated. Stream power of the downward erosion was revived because the sea level fell down. So stream power was superior to the resisting power under the cool-wet climatic condition during the last glacial period. Thus the river bed was excavated deeply, so that low river terraces were built up. And many incised meander loops were cut during this period. But, when fluvial system did not have equilibrium over all reaches, the last glacial period ended and the sea level initiated to rise rapidly. The headward erosion from the fall of sea level during the last glacial period had kept up to Hagye Fall because of the cutting of incised meander loops. Deeply excavated valleys and abandoned channel of cut-meander in lower reaches of a stream were filled with sediments. Thus the longitudinal profile of the uppermost reaches reflect the last interglacial, the upper reaches the last glacial, and the middle/1ower reaches recent fluvial system. Therefore low river terraces have been formed since the last glacial period.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.42 no.3 s.120
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• pp.388-404
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• 2007

This study interprets evolution of fluvial terraces along the four Yeongdong- and Yeongseo streams such as Naerin River, Yeongok River, Golji River and Osip River, in Gangwon Province based on the tectonics. The results from the analyses of the distribution pattern of fluvial terraces and incision rates of rivers show distinctively the evidence as the axis of uplift by Taebaek Mountains, especially on the 4th, 5th and 6th terraces in upper reach of Osip River among the four streams. The axis of uplift extends to the zone of $30\sim40km$ in width as well as the divide. The difference of uplift between upper and middle reaches of Naerin River and total reach of Golji River wasn't found from the height from riverbed by the active uplifting along all reaches, estimated to be set in inner area of uplift zone. Incision rate of period between formation age of 2nd terrace and 1st terrace is calculated $0.13\sim0.22m/ka$, and incision rate of period between formation age of 1st terrace and Present is diversely calculated $0.17\sim0.27m/ka$ by the climatic discrepancy between the two periods. The incision rate of Yeongdong streams whose mouths reach to the sea level eroded actively more than Yeongseo streams in the uplift zone. And Yeongdong streams between formation age of 1th terrace and present appears to much higher than that of Yeongseo streams, due to active down-cutting in oder to balance against the sea level.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.512-519
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• 2015

Although Quaternary marine terraces and onshore paleo-shoreline records provide clues to our understanding for the mode and nature of neotectonics in the Korean peninsula, it cannot be accomplished without knowledge on both independent information of the past sea level records and tectonic deformation field together with precise results of numerical dating for higher terraces. This study reported cosmogenic radionuclides ($^{10}Be$) dating results conducted in higher terraces in the eastern and western coasts of the Korean peninsula. As a result, the measured concentration ratio of $^9Be/^{10}Be$ and the exposure ages were much younger than expected. It implies that either there is possibility of error in experimental processes or the samples experienced a complex exposure history probably included a burial at some stage. Considering the past climatic conditions around the Korean peninsula and a possible complex exposure history after the emergence of marine terrace, the discovery of a suitable study area and a sampling site are an essential part of successful $^{10}Be$ dating technique.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1997

Yangsan Fault stretches from Yonghae to the mouth of Naktong River in the south-eastern part of Korean Peninsula. The river terraces originated from alluvial fans are classified into the High, Middle, and Low Surfaces. The High Surfaces which were distributed in fragments are considered to be formed during the Mindel/Riss Interglacial period or the former periods. But the Middle and Low Surfaces which were distributed widely are considered to be formed during the Riss and Last Glacial period respecitively. The geomorphic and geologic features around Yangsan Fault suggest that the fault is right strike-slip fault, and some geomorphic evidences of active fault were found on Eonyang and Sinkwang Basin.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.106-127
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• 1996

In Korea, modern geomorphology has developed as one of main subjects in geography, such as in Europe. Geomorphology is one of the most advanced specialties in the geography dicipline, since foundation of Korean Geographical Society in 1945. Untill 1960's study, first generation of the Korean geomorphologists trained the younger ones, together with energetic research activities. Their great works in education and research established the base of ulterier development of the geomorphology in Korea. Since 1970s, research manpower and quality has incresed rapidly, partly due to the various international activities and cooperations of Korean geomorphologists. Owing to above development, Korean geomorphologist was able to found "The Geomorphological Association of Korea" in 1990 and publish "Journal of GAK", since 1994. Furthermore, geomorphologists are playing important roles in interdisciplinary academic societies, such as "The Korean Quaternary Assocition". Still 1960s, our research had focused on the identification and interpretation of erosional surfaces in Korea Peninsular. Of course, W.M. Davis's "Geographical Cycle Theory" and L.C. King's "Pedimentation Theory" had a great influence on the Koerans' works. After 1970s, the study of erosional surface played the important role in setting up the morphoclimatic viewpoint and methodology. Research scope tend to be notably broad and various than it was untill 1960's. Disposotion of the scientific methods and techniques become more and more apparent. These trends of research has settled precise descreption and interpretation of actual landforms, based on the careful field works, scientific measuring, and analisis, rather than methodology focused on the particular master theories. Recent geomorphological researches show the scope from climatic geomorphology and Quaternary geomorphology to granite and limestone weathering, pedo-geomorphogenic environment and periglacial landforms, focused on the small-to-medium scales. And then there have been new trying to interprete erosional surfaces such as hillslopes and terraces. Also, studies of coastal and plain landforms have been successfully developed. Recent new trends show the quantitative and analytic modelling using field measurement and laboratory work, and study on the human impacts on the natural landforms.y on the human impacts on the natural landforms.