Republic of Korea
Last Updated : 07 February 2023.
Alongside exponential growth in GDP, per capita water use in the Republic of Korea has also grown. However, it has seen a marked decrease in recent year. Seasonal variation in water availability remains a challenge for the country’s water management, especially in light of water-related disasters exacerbated by climate change. About two thirds of the annual precipitation falls in the monsoon season between June and September. There are four major river basins in Korea, namely the Han, Geum, Nakdong and Yeongsan-Seomjin.
State of water environment
Legal framework
Framework Act on Environmental Policy (Outside source)
The purpose is to ensure that all citizens enjoy a healthy and pleasant life by preventing environmental pollution and environmental damage and by managing and preserving the environment in an appropriate and sustainable manner.
Framework Act on Water Management (Outside source)
Conservation of Water Quality in Inland Water
Rivers
- River Act
- Act on the Improvement of Water Quality and support for Residents of the Han River Basin
- Act on Water Management and Regidents support in the Nakdong River Basin
- Act on Water Management and Resident Support in the Geum River Basin
- Act on Water Management and Resident Support in the Yeongsan and Seomjin River Basins
- Small River Maintenance Act
Conservation of Water Quality in Coastal Water
Conservation of Water Quality in Groundwater
Other Laws Related to Water Environment
- Environmental Impact Assessment Act
- Environmental Testing and Inspection Act
- Water Supply and Waterworks Installation Act
- Act on Promotion and Support of Water Reuse
- Ballast Water Management Act
- Special Act on the Utilization of Waterfronts
- Water-related Leisure Activities Safety Act
- Korea Water Resources Corporation Act
- Development and Management of Deep Sea Water Act
Institutional Arrangement of water
Responsibilities which were previously spread across different ministries (for example, large rivers/streams were under MLIT, small streams/creeks were under the Ministry of Interior and Safety, lakes were under Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and sewerage was under the Ministry of Environment) were all restructured for management under the Ministry of Environment. The National Institute for Environmental Research (NIER) conducts monitoring of environmental water quality.
The following local environmental agencies conduct monitoring and legal enforcement:
- Han River Basin Environmental Agency
- Geum River Basin Environmental Agency
- Nakdong River Basin Environmental Agency
- Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Agency
- Daegu Regional Environmental Agency
- Wonju Regional Environmental Agency
- Jeonju Regional Environmental Agency
These regional environmental agencies, together with the Water Environment Research Center, Research Institute of Public Health and Environment, K-Water, and the Korean Rural Community Corporation form a multistakeholder consortium that implements the water quality monitoring framework.”