(LEAD) Park pledges full gov't support for quake-hit Gyeongju

All News 19:26 September 20, 2016

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; ADDS photo, Park's remarks in paras 3-4)

GYEONGJU, South Korea, Sept. 20 (Yonhap) -- President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday pledged full government support to cope with the aftermath of the record quake and aftershocks that hit the southern city of Gyeongju.

During her trip to the city, 371 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Park met with anxious residents and then visited the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant which has shutdown its four reactors temporarily following the quakes last week.

"(The government) will spare no effort to support this region to ensure that it can quickly regain stability," Park said during a meeting with the residents.

"As it has been confirmed that our country is no longer safe from quakes, (the government) will review the overall response system and craft thorough measures (to deal with future temblors)," she added.

President Park Geun-hye (3rd from R) meets with a group of residents in Gyeongju, some 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Sept. 20, 2016, to pledge full government support to cope with the aftermath of the record strong quake and aftershocks that struck the ancient city. (Yonhap)

On Sept. 12, Gyeongju was hit by two quakes, one of which registered magnitude 5.8, the strongest to hit the Korean Peninsula to date. The city and its vicinity have since been buffeted by hundreds of smaller aftershocks, with a 4.5 quake hitting the city again on Monday.

No serious injuries have been reported, but many residents have been suffering from anxiety, which experts say could develop into post-traumatic stress disorder if not properly treated.

In terms of property damage, the latest quakes damaged the roofs of some traditional houses, called hanok, which Gyeongju -- the ancient capital of the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. - 935 A.D.) -- has been striving to keep intact as a key tourism asset.