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. None

    The octomom is at it again.

    July 5, 2011 at 4:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • mala

      They not talking about Octomom, they are talking about mysterious shaking.

      July 5, 2011 at 5:49 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Emigdio

    Good idea to close the building. If a building shakes, and no seismic activity is reported, you might want to pay attention.

    July 5, 2011 at 4:22 pm | Report abuse |
  3. I. Hustle

    If the house is a rockin'
    Don't bother knockin'

    July 5, 2011 at 4:26 pm | Report abuse |
  4. FU

    Ocean's 14...

    July 5, 2011 at 4:31 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Andrew St.

    It's like in that episode of Fringe... Right before the buildings from 2 universes got merged.

    July 5, 2011 at 4:38 pm | Report abuse |
    • ProperVillain

      LOL! Next we'll see footage of a mysterious "amber" glob encasing the building...

      July 5, 2011 at 5:02 pm | Report abuse |
    • S4LK1N

      thats a good episode.

      July 5, 2011 at 5:36 pm | Report abuse |
  6. james

    The kimchi was a bit too strong.

    July 5, 2011 at 4:41 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Toddyboom

    The North Korean tunnel is allllmost complete. Dear leader will be there soon...

    July 5, 2011 at 4:46 pm | Report abuse |
  8. steeve-o

    Infrasound!!!

    July 5, 2011 at 4:50 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Harlequinn Bell

    They had wormsign the likes of which even god has never seen...

    July 5, 2011 at 4:52 pm | Report abuse |
  10. daniel

    didnt they have a mall collapse in the late 90s?

    July 5, 2011 at 4:58 pm | Report abuse |
    • Dave

      They had several buildings collapse in the 80s and 90s. Their buildings are often poorly constructed. The builders frequently cut corners, use sub-standard materials, violate building codes, and pay off the building inspectors. I have been in many buildings in Seoul which shook a lot, had lights which would still flicker when you turned them off, plumbing which was not properly vented, etc. Many of their buildings would be condemned if a US inspector went through them.

      July 5, 2011 at 5:32 pm | Report abuse |
  11. ProperVillain

    Oceans 13! I bet whatever safes are in that building are cleaned out now. Well played, well played...

    July 5, 2011 at 5:01 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Sb

    Call the paranormal activity trackers...

    July 5, 2011 at 5:32 pm | Report abuse |
  13. MrBo

    So the building resonated, probably due to wind.
    Mystery solved. now, go and fix the design.

    July 5, 2011 at 5:35 pm | Report abuse |
    • darkoldman

      But... now, is there anyone alive who is still able to understand Fourier series?

      July 5, 2011 at 5:46 pm | Report abuse |
  14. john

    Maybe the North Koreans are drilling one of their tunnels underneath 🙂 Visit mapleleaks.com

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

      No they are not john. That not nice.

      July 5, 2011 at 5:50 pm | Report abuse |
  15. mala

    Now you say sorry too.

    July 5, 2011 at 5:50 pm | Report abuse |
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