Korea Water Resources Corp Adopts Mekong Water Declaration

The Korea Water Resources Corporation (KWRC) convened the 4th Mekong-Korea Water Forum in Seoul on October 1st, alongside the Ministry of Environment. This event brought together approximately 200 attendees, comprising government representatives from the five Mekong countries - Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand - as well as officials from 15 development cooperation partners, such as the Green Climate Fund and the Asian Development Bank.

Organized by the Mekong-Korea Water Management Center, this forum is the sole domestic platform dedicated to water sector development cooperation within the Mekong region.

The Mekong River, a vital water source for around 250 million individuals, is currently grappling with issues like floods, droughts, and water pollution due to rapid industrialization and climate change. In response, KWRC and the Mekong nations have signed a joint declaration, aiming to tackle the climate crisis and identify practical cooperation projects.

These projects will leverage South Korea's advanced AI and digital twin technologies, notably the Digital Twin Water Management Platform and the AI-based Autonomous Water Treatment Plant Operation System, both of which have previously won top rankings in the Ministry of Economy and Finance's evaluation of public institution innovation projects.

During the forum, practical sessions were organized to assist domestic water companies in entering the Mekong region. Twenty-two domestic water companies with cutting-edge technologies, such as intelligent leak management, participated in one-on-one consultation meetings with officials from the five Mekong countries. KWRC also hosted a water technology promotion pavilion, aiming to establish a cooperative framework that links local demand with domestic innovative technologies.

Yun Seog-dae, CEO of KWRC, emphasized the significance of AI water management technologies in fostering practical cooperation to address global climate challenges, stating, "It is meaningful that AI water management technologies can serve as a medium for practical cooperation in responding to global climate challenges." He further pledged, "We will do our best in the role of a bridge connecting South Korea and the five Mekong countries so that our 60 years of water management experience and technological capabilities can bear fruit on the ground."

The participants shared ideas on strengthening climate resilience through digital water management and explored potential joint projects for the future.