The second strongest-ever 5.4-magnitude earthquake followed by a series of aftershocks shook southern coastal area of South Korea on Wednesday but so far has not dealt major damages to the industry-heavy region.

The afternoon seismic shocks caused 57 injuries and ruined homes for more than 1,500 people. No deaths were reported. The college scholastic ability test to be held on Thursday was called off for a week, the first-ever cancellation in the once-a-year state-administered college entrance exam.

Local markets were undisturbed. Korea’s main Kospi index Thursday closed 0.66 percent up at 2,534.79, while the secondary Kosdaq index ended 1.59 percent up at 780.22.

The quake was struck off the coast about 9 kilometers north of the Pohang city in North Gyeongsang Province, marking the strongest in the country since a 5.8-magnitude quake in southeastern city of Gyeongju last year.

North Gyeongsang is home to 12 of Korea’s 24 nuclear power stations, steelmaker Posco, and petrochemical plants.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP), the country’s operator of nuclear reactors, said the tremors did not cause any damage and that all the reactors including six in the nearest Wolsong plant in the city of Gyeongju were operating normally.

Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. also reported no disturbance to their chip-making lines clustered closer to the capital and central region, although tremors were felt in southern Seoul.

The Gumi factory line of Korea’s top display maker LG Display came to a brief stop but was soon normalized. Business is as usual at Hyundai Motor’s main automaking plant in Ulsan.

Hyundai Heavy Industries also continues with normal shipbuilding at its Ulsan plant after installing emergency operation room to quickly respond to possible damages and restricting the use of high-rise cranes.

The government will study the scope of damages and consider naming the quake-hit area special disaster zone eligible to emergency state aid funding.

By Seo Dae-hyun and Lee He-yeon

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]