For earthquake loss estimation of building structures in Gangnam-Gu district in Seoul, three scenario earthquakes were selected by comparison of the response spectra of these scenario earthquakes with the design spectrum in Korean Building Code (KBC 2009), and then direct losses of the building structures in the Gangnam-Gu district under each scenario earthquake are estimated. The following conclusions are drawn from the results of damage and loss in the second scenario earthquake, which has a magnitude = 6.5 and epicentral distance =15 km: (1) The ratio of building stocks undergoing the extensive and complete damage level is 40.0% of the total. (2) The amount of direct economic losses appears approximately 19 trillion won, which is 1.2% of the national GDP of Korea. (3) About 25% of high-rise (over 10-story) RC building wall structures, were inflicted with the damage exceeding moderate level, when compared to 60% of low-rise building structures. (4) From the economical view point, the main loss, approximately 50%, was caused by the damage in the high-rise RC wall building structures.

This paper makes an estimation of the monetary damages caused by a snowfall-related natural disaster over the period 1985-2012. Economic damages are estimated for the disaster, employing economic, demographic and climate data with Tobit models for censored samples. This paper provides a basic framework for an understanding of natural disasters as an interaction between climate factors and socio-economic ones. However, it seems to true that frequent and/or more intensive weather-related natural hazards have happened over the study period, although some findings from this work could not definitely provide strong evidence for making a distinction between human-induced climate change and weather-related natural disasters.