Korea's sea level rises more than 10 centimeters over 34 years

Pictured is the Dongho beach in Yangyang County, Gangwon, bordering the East Sea. [YONHAP]

Korea's sea level has risen more than 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) over the past 34 years, government data showed Tuesday.

The country's average coastal surface height rose 10.3 centimeters from 1989 to 2022, advancing 3.03 millimeters annually, according to the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency.

The East Sea saw the largest increase of 3.44 millimeters per year on average, followed by the Yellow Sea with 3.15 millimeters and the southern sea of Korea with 2.71 millimeters per year, the data showed.

The analysis was based on data collected from 21 observation posts in the country's coastal areas.

The data also showed the sea levels grew 30 percent faster over the past decade compared with the previous 30-year period.

The major physical consequences of rise in sea levels include the erosion of beaches and inundation of deltas which can cause flooding, loss of mudflats, marshes and wetlands, and the destruction of ecosystems due to an increase in salinity, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. This could lead to a damaging economic impact on those who rely on coastal areas for seafood, as well as valuable coastal properties.

BY KIM JU-YEON, YONHAP [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]