By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
The rising sea level due to global warming is likely to significantly submerge coastline equal to about 1.4 times the area of Seoul by 2100, according to a new environment report.
The National Oceanographic Research Institute's (NORI) forecast released Thursday said 1.2 percent of the peninsula would be under water, forcing 1.25 million people from their livelihoods.
The state-run agency warned that if the current level of fossil fuel use is maintained through to the end of the century, the earth's average temperature will go up by 6.4 degrees Celsius and sea levels will rise 59 centimeters.
NORI said the coastline submersion predictions for Korea is one of the world's most serious, as the average global temperature rose 0.74 degrees Celsius over the past century, while Korea's rose 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Jeju Island off the country's southern coast is noted as the most threatened area, as the sea level there rose 22 centimeters over the past 40 years.
The institute said it will begin a detailed analysis of sea level changes and develop countermeasures.
Such plans will result in heavy costs, NORI said, adding that an estimated 40 billon won will be needed by 2040 to shoulder costs from environmental threats.
Globally, island countries, including Tuvalu, Japan and the Pacific Islands, are known to be facing the biggest threat from global warming.