Free Flow

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conomic

evelopment

and

ater

resources.

K-water is the public corporation directly responsible

for Korea’s water administration, with its activities influenced by

three ministries: Security and Public Administration, Environment,

and Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT). These minis-

tries consult with each other granting approval, setting regulation,

establishing the national plans and providing subsidies for the

operation of water services and projects. K-water is accountable

to MOLIT, which oversees its operations. In turn, K-water provides

water to industrial consumers and contracts with local govern-

ments to provide them with water through the multi-regional

systems. Local governments then provide water and sewerage

services to households and industry. Thus, the very organizational

framework of water management in Korea involves close coopera-

tion among government agencies, K-water, local governments and

the private sector.

Cooperation was an essential part of Korea’s development. The iconic

example is the Saemaeul Undong, or New Village Movement, during

the 1970s. The movement began with the aim of improving the living

environment of rural farming communities. Due to its early success, the

movement was expanded to a nationwide scale with more ambitious

goals. Village communities were categorized into three groups depend-

ing on their level of self-improvement, with more aid allocated to the

more successful groups. This movement rallied the national spirit to

diligence, self-improvement and collective efforts while at the same time

increasing the competitiveness of villages for government aid. Among

the KRW3.4 trillion invested in the movement during the 1970s, nearly

half was contributed by residents themselves.

Furthermore, the move-

ment expanded far beyond the scope of agriculture, giving rise to the

Urban Saemaeul Undong, Regional Saemaeul Undong,

Women’s Saemaeul Undong, Workplace Saemaeul

Undong, Factory Saemaeul Undong, Saemaeul Teenagers

Undong and a number of other Saemaeul movements.

a result of the movement, besides increases in agricultural

productivity, basic infrastructure was laid through the

paving of roads, maintaining of small rivers and streams,

installation of waterworks and drainage systems, and

provision of electricity and telephones to every village.

More pertinently, the involvement of the private

sector in national water resources development exem-

plifies cooperation for national economic growth. In

the case of the Soyanggang Dam, Hyundai Engineering

and Construction was contracted to build the dam.

The project began in 1967 with actual construction

beginning the following year, and finished in 1973,

upon which the dam became the motive force for

the Miracle on the Han River.

Initially, a Japanese

construction company had proposed building a

concrete dam, but given Korea’s limited cement

production capacity, and upon Hyundai’s proposal

for a rock-filled dam that would cost the nation far

less, Hyundai became the private constructor. The

construction was a notable feat, given the notion that

a rock-filled dam could only be feasible economically

up to a height of 30 metres. At a height of 123 metres,

the Soyanggang Dam is the tallest dam in Korea. An

additional, and perhaps greater, significance of the

The Gangjeong Goryeong Weir before (left) and after (right)

Image: K-water

River restoration and sustainable water management

An example of sustainable water management is the Four Major Rivers

Restoration Project.

As its name implies, restoring the health of the rivers

is among the large-scale project’s holistic aims, which also include resilience

to extreme weather events and the economic and cultural stimulation of

riverside communities. The project involves the construction of 16 multi-

purpose barrages or weirs (completed in 2012) and dredging, as well as

the revitalization of the riverside into ecological parks, camping sites, sports

facilities, docks and nearly 1,800 km of cycle paths. These recreational

areas have increased the value of the rivers and adjacent land and have

promoted economic activity. Natural waterways and fish paths have also

been restored. The barrages or weirs have led to the decrease in flood level

of the main river by 2-4 metres despite record rainfall. Flood damage has

been greatly reduced as a result, even though four typhoons passed through

the country in 2012. The project has also secured 1.17 billion m

of water

resources, ensuring stable water supply despite the severe droughts of May

and June the same year. Thus, the project symbolizes green growth through

reduced economic loss, economic stimulation in the waterfront areas, and

improved water quality and restored natural waterway function.