K-water NEWS
K-water NEWS
1
World Water Day 2024
World Water Day 2024 was celebrated at the Daejeon Convention Center on March 22. In December 1992, the United Nations designated March 22 as “World Water Day” to raise awareness on the importance of water and prompt countries to recognize, tackle, and cooperate on water issues. With the Korean government holding World Water Day since 1995, the theme of World Water Day 2024 in South Korea is “Clean and Safe Water for All”. To mark World Water Day, individuals of national merit were recognized with awards, with symposiums and Water Korea being held. K-water participated in a symposium that discussed a shift of paradigm in water management policy. In addition, K-water employees from various departments volunteered to collect garbage in and around rivers to preserve and sustainably manage the water environment in local communities, leading to a renewed sense of appreciation for water as a precious resource.
2
Cooperation Agreements on Tackling Water Crisis
Water is directly linked to corporate competitiveness in the face of climate crisis. The Ministry of Environment and large corporations have decided to join hands to proactively respond to water crisis and a global initiative was launched to cope with it. The Ministry of Environment and K-water have signed an agreement with Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, LG Electronics, POSCO, Naver and CDP Korea to cooperate on managing climate change and water crisis. With this agreement, the government, municipalities, public agencies, corporations and civic groups will reach a consensus on the water crisis triggered by climate change and actively respond to the Water Positive Initiative of having more water recovered to nature than is consumed. The agreement marks a watershed in tackling the water crisis at the national level, help identify public-private cooperation agendas for sustainable water management and secure enforcement authority by forming a high-level council.
3
Signing a business agreement with Vietnam
Expansion of cooperation in the water sector with Cambodia
K-water shares its water management technology with Vietnam & Cambodia.
K-water visited Vietnam and Cambodia on March 15 and 18, respectively, to discuss ways to share its water management technology and know-how, particularly its digital water management technology including digital twin, AI water purification plant and smart pipe network management as well as its water management experience in various cooperation projects. K-water and its Vietnam-based counterpart have signed an agreement to expand a water partnership in response to climate crisis and share digital water management technology. Under the agreement, a working group will be formed. CEO Yun Seog-dae of K-water said, “We will focus our efforts on expanding international development cooperation in green infrastructure based on our digital water management technology and increasing green industry exports catering to the needs of target countries.”
4
Onboarding Newly Hired Recruits
Onboarding for newly hired recruits for the first half of 2024 ran for two weeks starting from March 18. The onboarding training session was conducted for 130 new employees, who learned about K-water’s vision and common values and gained the basic knowledge and skills required to perform their jobs through image branding, vision drawing and other programs. In the session titled “Meet with the CEO” held on March 27, CEO Yun met with and urged them to adhere to the basics, let their passion and ambition guide them as they contribute to shaping the future of K-water. CEO Yun also offered a message of support for newly hired recruits who are embarking on their careers.
5
The 13th labor union holds the first meeting with management and reaches agreement on parking environment and more.
K-water held the first regular labor-management meeting of the year on March 20. The meeting attended by CEO Yun Seog-dae and union leader Park Ki-chan discussed five reporting agendas, including the aggregate working hours management system, and reached an agreement on five issues to improve working conditions including the parking environment. Both the labor and management reached a consensus on the need to make a happy workplace for all. The management expressed its support for the newly formed union’s commitment and passion, and the union responded by promising to work with the management with an open mind and mutual trust in creating a workplace where everybody is respected and happy.