Jeju groundwater management joins cooperation network spanning 27 Asian countries

【Financial News Jeju = Jeong Yong-bok, reporter】 Jeju Province has formally joined an international water-management cooperation network involving 187 institutions from 27 Asian countries. The move lays the groundwork for sharing its experience in public groundwater management with Asian countries and pursuing joint research and pilot projects to address climate change.
According to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on the 5th, Jeju Province was approved as a new member institution, along with six other organizations, at the 25th board meeting of the Asia Water Council (AWC), held in Bangkok, Thailand, on the 4th. It then signed an MOU with the AWC to promote international cooperation and joint projects in water management.
The AWC is a water cooperation body in Asia, with the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) serving as its chair organization. As a member of the World Water Council (WWC) Board, it promotes exchanges on water-management policies and technologies, as well as joint projects. The agreement includes joint research to address climate change, the development of pilot projects, improvements in water welfare, cooperation on international events, and education and training.
Jeju Province is focusing its cooperation efforts on public groundwater management. Lim Hong-cheol, the province’s director of the Environment, Forest and Natural Resources Bureau, briefed representatives of member institutions that day on managing groundwater withdrawal volumes under development and use permits, designating special management zones, and operating a special account for groundwater management. The plan is to draw on Jeju’s management experience in international cooperation, given that groundwater formed in volcanic rock layers is a major water resource for the island.
This membership follows discussions at the Jeju Water World Forum last March on expanding international cooperation. Jeju Province plans to adapt overseas water-management technologies to local conditions and broaden the forum’s cooperation base by linking it with international events such as Asia International Water Week.
In the water-industry sector, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Development Corporation operated a promotional booth for Jeju Samdasoo at a corporate technology expo held that day. It introduced the product to representatives of overseas water-related institutions and companies and held business consultations.
Lim said, "We will share Jeju’s experience in public groundwater management with Asian countries and pursue practical cooperation projects, including joint research and policy exchanges," adding, "We will also work to promote Jeju Samdasoo overseas and expand its exports."


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