<p>A Korean here.
Haean Myeon in Gangwon-do has two theories of creation. One is Meteor impact and another is differential erosion. There were no meteor related evidence found at Haean so the erosion theory is more agreed upon at the moment.</p>

<p>Direct translation from introduction website for Hae An:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>According to the analysis of the granite of the punchbowl basin [nickname for Haean], it consists of 71% feldspar, 22% quartz and 5.7% mica. Feldspar is much more weathering than quartz and mica, and since it is rapidly clayed at room temperature, the lowland is eroded earlier than the current highland with high resistance to weathering, resulting in this unusual branching form.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-28T08:35:33.573Z
Can you add the link to this *introduction website for Hae An* to make this answer more complete?
Jan Doggen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-28T04:10:19.297Z
2019-02-28T08:21:42.693Z
2019-02-28T08:21:42.693Z
Arandomstudent21
<p>This is a layman's question. While looking for something I read in the news today, I stumbled upon the Haean region in South Korea (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B017&#39;16.0%22N+128%C2%B007&#39;57.2%22E/@38.2877667,127.8545873,96006m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d38.2877667!4d128.13255" rel="nofollow noreferrer">38°17'15.96"N, 128° 7'57.18"E</a>) in Google Earth.</p>

<p>To me it looks either like a caldera or like a meteor impact site. Does anyone know from available facts whether one or the other is true? <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haean" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a> doesn't say anything about it. Is there any way to tell from the geometric features alone, or does it require taking soil samples from the site?</p>

<p>Interestingly there are some more crater-like features in South Korea (e.g.  <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%B049&#39;05.1%22N+127%C2%B003&#39;12.5%22E/@37.8121197,127.0481571,12072m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d37.8180889!4d127.0534806" rel="nofollow noreferrer">37°49'5.12"N, 127° 3'12.53"E</a>, almost perfect circular shape). Can this be considered a result of the proximity of the pacific ring of fire, or is it just too far away?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-28T10:29:38.617Z
I have a feeling that [this book](https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780124055186/geology-and-sedimentology-of-the-korean-peninsula) might have the answer
Gimelist
<volcanology><meteorite><impacts>
Haean, South Korea: is it of volcanic or meteor impact origin?
oliver
# Haean, South Korea: is it of volcanic or meteor impact origin?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-04-26)

This is a layman's question. While looking for something I read in the news today, I stumbled upon the Haean region in South Korea ([38°17'15.96"N, 128° 7'57.18"E](https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B017'16.0%22N+128%C2%B007'57.2%22E/@38.2877667,127.8545873,96006m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d38.2877667!4d128.13255)) in Google Earth.

To me it looks either like a caldera or like a meteor impact site. Does anyone know from available facts whether one or the other is true? [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haean) doesn't say anything about it. Is there any way to tell from the geometric features alone, or does it require taking soil samples from the site?

Interestingly there are some more crater-like features in South Korea (e.g. [37°49'5.12"N, 127° 3'12.53"E](https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%B049'05.1%22N+127%C2%B003'12.5%22E/@37.8121197,127.0481571,12072m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d37.8180889!4d127.0534806), almost perfect circular shape). Can this be considered a result of the proximity of the pacific ring of fire, or is it just too far away?

**Tags:** volcanology, meteorite, impacts

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I have a feeling that [this book](https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780124055186/geology-and-sedimentology-of-the-korean-peninsula) might have the answer  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-02-28. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

A Korean here.
Haean Myeon in Gangwon-do has two theories of creation. One is Meteor impact and another is differential erosion. There were no meteor related evidence found at Haean so the erosion theory is more agreed upon at the moment.

Direct translation from introduction website for Hae An:

> According to the analysis of the granite of the punchbowl basin [nickname for Haean], it consists of 71% feldspar, 22% quartz and 5.7% mica. Feldspar is much more weathering than quartz and mica, and since it is rapidly clayed at room temperature, the lowland is eroded earlier than the current highland with high resistance to weathering, resulting in this unusual branching form.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Can you add the link to this *introduction website for Hae An* to make this answer more complete?  

---

