July 5th, 2011
07:40 AM ET

Korean office tower evacuated after mysterious shaking

Authorities in Seoul, South Korea, ordered the evacuation of a 39-story office building Tuesday after occupants reported that it shook for about 10 minutes, local media reported.

There was no seismic activity reported at the time of the tremors, which began about 10:10 a.m., according to a report in The Korea Times.

"I fled the building with everyone else while it was shaking up and down. It almost made me feel dizzy," Lim Joon-hee, who works on the 20th floor of the building, told the Yonhap News Agency.

About 3,000 people were in the building at the time. All were evacuated, and the building, whose tenants include offices, retailers and a theater,  will remain closed for up to three days while it undergoes safety inspections, local media reported.

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Filed under: South Korea • World
soundoff (225 Responses)
  1. Dave

    Korea has a history of buildings collapsing due to shoddy construction. There has long been a problem with builders skimping on materials, cutting corners, failing to follow building codes, and with inspectors being paid to look the other way. Many buildings in Seoul shake quite alarmingly just from people walking around. And don't even get me started on the electrical and plumbing problems over there.

    July 5, 2011 at 2:46 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Herod Apyur Poupr

    It was reported that DSK was in the building chasing cleaning ladies up and down the halls while wearing nothing but a towel.

    July 5, 2011 at 2:46 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Big God

    Sorry I was there an letout a toot. My bad 🙁

    July 5, 2011 at 2:48 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mac11

      How about using some English skills?

      July 5, 2011 at 3:01 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Biker

    CNN is now reporting godzilla is destroying the city

    July 5, 2011 at 2:51 pm | Report abuse |
  5. dreamer96

    Thats what happens when you try to live inside a Transformer.

    July 5, 2011 at 2:52 pm | Report abuse |
  6. maximusvad

    Sounds like a CRYSIS to me.

    July 5, 2011 at 3:03 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Akala

    Probably caused by the 'perfect' wind acting on the structure.

    July 5, 2011 at 3:15 pm | Report abuse |
  8. smc

    Apparently North Korea needs to slow down a bit on those tunnels they're building under the South.

    July 5, 2011 at 3:18 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Bill

    It was just some guy with bad parkinsons.

    July 5, 2011 at 3:47 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Fried Spinach

    I used to live in Seoul. Might be nice if CNN told us which building.

    July 5, 2011 at 3:47 pm | Report abuse |
  11. endisnear

    Hint 97% of all solar systems have a Binery star

    July 5, 2011 at 3:49 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Transformed

    Definately Shockwave from the Dark Side of the Moon.

    July 5, 2011 at 3:52 pm | Report abuse |
  13. TD40

    Clearly, this was caused by backfiring Daewoos in the streets...

    July 5, 2011 at 4:00 pm | Report abuse |
  14. drhox

    Bad building integrity.

    July 5, 2011 at 4:06 pm | Report abuse |
  15. just a thought

    True story:I had a viberation, in my house once, maybe not so bad as this, but I searched and searched, discovered it was my toothbush; I had failed to turn it off. So, maybe it is Gonzola brushing his teeth

    July 5, 2011 at 4:09 pm | Report abuse |
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