ROK's initial development of the water related infrastructure traces back to a hundred years ago, when the nation's first waterworks facility was built in 1908. The “Regulations Relating to Drinking Water Supply” was established in the following year, introducing the concepts of water supply methods, water charges, and restriction measures targeting law violators. In September 1910, the Government promulgated the 62nd Enforcement Decree relating to water supply mandating police authorities to designate water protection zones.

Modernization of ROK's water management policies has gradually evolved since the 1960s in accordance with the Government's policy trends and changing directions. These years of innovative policy developments can be shaped into four distinct periods, and will be described in this section.