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2023. Sep VOL. 666
2023. Sep VOL. 666
1
K-water had a meeting with the ambassadors of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam on August 1 regarding the enhanced cooperation between Korea and the five Southeast Asian countries regarding the management of water of the Mekong. Held at K-water’s Hangang Catchment Basin HQs, the meeting saw the participants exchanging ideas about the projects implemented by K-water in the Mekong River basin, including those to renovate the water service facilities in Battambang Province, Cambodia, and the climate-adaptive flood forecast and warning system for the Sebanghiyang River Basin in Laos. The participants also talked about the measures for closer cooperation between the countries concerned through the Korea-Mekong Water Management Center, an institution run by K-water, and new projects that may help solve water-related problems between the Mekong countries.
2
K-water has recently agreed to the authorization of completion of Yeongju Dam, giving way to the normal operation of the dam. Yeongju Dam is expected to contribute to the vitalization of local economy, reduction of flooding in the catchment basins of Nakdonggang and Naeseongcheon rivers, and stable supply of water in the Gyeongbuk area. It is a well-known fact that K-water made incessant efforts to get authorization of completion for Yeongju Dam through regular meetings with the city administration of Yeongju-si. The company had also been active in the ▲ relocation of cultural heritage sites and features and adjustment of project expenses, and ▲ confirmation of measures to deal with cultural heritage in cooperation with related government agencies such as the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission. K-water considers the authorization to be a great achievement made seven years after the completion of construction of the dam.
3
K-water starts the development of the “smart tap water safety platform” using AI digital innovation technologies to supply safe tap water in preparation for climate crisis. Planned with the aim of supplying tap water in a stable manner in preparation for the rapidly changing international environment marked by climate change and accelerated digital transition, the development of the smart tap water safety platform is to be a comprehensive decision-making platform that uses and analyzes GIS-based data. The platform is expected to be completed later this year and operated first by the local governments where the operation of water supply facilities is consigned to K-water. The details of the platform and related services will be disclosed to the public through a Cloud-based service.
4
‘Eulji Exercise 2023,’ an emergency drill aimed at strengthening capacity in responding to crisis and cooperation between government agencies concerned in critical situations, took place for four days from August 21. Planned to establish an effective emergency recovery system for dams and water service facilities constituting the essential infrastructure for the life of people and industries, the exercise was participated in by a total of 900 including the head office of K-water, 4 Catchment Basin HQs, and 28 branch offices. The exercise started in the morning of August 21 with the issuance of an emergency call for all K-water employees and continued with map exercise to handle various emergency situations that can happen, discussion of wartime challenges, security education for K-water staff, and civil defense drill. The highlight of the exercise was a drill to recover from the damages supposedly inflicted on important state infrastructure, particularly the damage to the sluice gate of Daecheong Dam that contains the drinking water source for the population of 4.5 million in the Chungcheong area.
5
K-water has recently announced that it would reduce or waive charges for the water service provided to metropolitan areas across the country as part of its plan to support MSEs facing a lot of difficulties today. According to the plan, K-water reduces or waives water charges for one month for a total of 131 local self-governing bodies and 1,100 SMEs and small business owners to whom K-water supplies water directly from the dams and water services under its direct management. The target organizations and individuals are required to apply for exemption until November this year. The actual exemption amount will be connected with the amount of water supplied, probably by 30% considering the rates of use of the water supplied by K-water.
6
An event organized by K-water to support the Ukrainian Korean compatriots staying in Korea was held under the theme ‘Sharing Hopes, Reviving Smiles’ at the Overseas Korean Cultural Center on August 10. The support was aimed at sharing the painful experiences caused by the wars that both Korea and Ukraine have gone through and supporting a total of about 1,000 Korean compatriots in Ukraine who fled to Korea for shelter after the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022. Participated in by a large number of K-water employees, the event involved sending gifts of daily necessities to about 200 households and holding a variety of cultural programs such as cooking class and face painting to enhance communication and friendship.
