Landslides are an example of mass wasting. In July, 2011, South Korea experienced devastating landslides that resulted in death and destruction in two major cities. Although landslides can be the result of a combination of several variables, the 2011 disaster was largely precipitated by a greater than normal amount of rain.
Climate change is having a severe impact on the Korean Peninsula. In the past 100 years, the temperature in the region has risen more than 1.8 degrees Celsius (35.24 degrees Fahrenheit), which has increased the length of the summer season by 19 days and moved the rainy season to August. The country is now experiencing what the people call "water bombs" --- massive and destructive rainstorms after the traditional rainy season. The Peninsula itself is steadily becoming a subtropical region, and, unfortunately, South Korea's water control systems were built for a very different climate zone.
On July 27, 2011, Seoul was drenched by 301.5 millimeters (11.8 inches) of rain. Some locations on the Peninsula received 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) of rain hourly! The heavy rains triggered major landslides of fast-moving, muddy water in Seoul and in the city of Chuncheon. Thirteen people were killed in Chuncheon, including college students who were living in a cabin in the area while doing volunteer work. They were buried by mud and debris. Sixteen people were killed in the southern part of Seoul where debris flows destroyed residential areas at the base of a mountain. For a TIME magazine photo essay of the devastation, see the link below.
http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2085502,00.html
There are also videos that capture the horror of the landslide (one taken from a car that drove through it!).
http://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2011/07/29/another-new-video-of-the-south-korea-landslides/
The regular heavy rainfalls and changing climate have lent a tone of urgency to the need to change the drainage systems in the country. They were built to handle 75 millimeters (2.9 inches) of rain per hour and a major rainfall every 10 years. The 2011 system was on the verge of collapse when the storm hit. Consequently, Seoul decided to raise the capacity to 95 millimeters (3.74 inches) of rain per hour and install 82.9 kilometers (51.5 miles) of pipes in high risk areas of the city.
As I searched for other kinds of mass wasting in South Korea, I found an old (1956) video (newsreel) of an avalanche that killed 44 soldiers. The narration on the newsreel took me back in time! Check it out.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/avalanche-kills-44-soldiers-in-seoul-aka-korean-av
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Sources:
Korea JoonAng Daily; "When Climate changes, city must too"; Kim Han-byul, Jeon Young-sun; July 30, 2011
http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2939562
TIME Photo Gallery
http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2085502,00.html
AGU Blogoshpere; "Another new video of South Korea landslides;"; Dave Petley
http://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2011/07/29/another-new-video-of-the-south-korea-landslides/
The Guardian; South Korea; "Deadly Landslides hit South Korea;"
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/27/south-korea-landslides-kill-17
https://prezi.com/owohrgxm5yzm/south-korean-landslides/
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/avalanche-kills-44-soldiers-in-seoul-aka-korean-av
