1960s: Water Resource Management, A Prelude to the Establishment of K-water

• With the government’s effort to promote the heavy chemical industry and to advance Korea’s industrial structure, the Korea Water Resources Corporation Act was enacted and promulgated on August 3, 1966 in accordance with the National Land Development Plan and the ‘Korea Water Resources Corporation’ was accordingly established on November 16, 1967. K-water has conducted numerous projects on comprehensive water resources development, its use and preservation, and has established a foundation to make significant contributions to national economic growth and the improvement of people’s lives. A new chapter on Korean water management history started.

1970s: Providing a Stepping Stone for National Growth

• The corporation was renamed the Industrial Sites Development Corporation as the Industrial Sites Development Corporation Act was enacted in December, 1973. With the long-accumulated experience in water resources development, the corporation took charge of national projects of developing national industrial bases. While establishing national industrial complexes in the cities of Yeosu, Changwon, Gumi and Onsan, it has solidified the foundation for Korea’s rapid growth. The cities have played a role of rock-solid buttress for Korean economy, even now. During this period, the construction works for Soyanggang Dam and Andong Dam were completed to serve a strong stepping stone for Korea’s growth.

1980s: Full-Fledged Transformation into a Water Resource-Specialized Organization

A drastic increase in water demand was witnessed with as people’s lifestyles changed and social demands for welfare improvement increased. In order to proactively respond to the demands of the times, the Korea Water Resources Corporation was reborn on July 1st, 1988 with the mission to be a general water resource management agency. During this period, we completed the construction of three dams, Nakdonggang Estuary Barrage, and established a foundation for waterworks by purchasing, operating, and managing water facilities.

1990s: Towards Water, Nature and Humans

With the revision of the “Korea Water Resource Corporation Act” in November 1990, its work scope was expanded to include waterworks development and the construction of the metropolitan waterworks facilities commenced. Starting with the water supply facility in Ilsan New Town, which was completed in 1996, while the following construction projects were completed in their respective order: Gwacheon, Seongnam, Paldang, Wonju, Taebaek and Chungju This is also when the management philosophy of valuing water, nature and humans began to be established as it coincided with people’s heightened interest in nature and the environment.

2000s: Striving to Become a Global Total Water Service Provider

With the opening of the WTO era and deepening inequality in water supply amongst nations, K-water declared the opening of the K-water Era in 2006 and presented a clear determination to leap forward as a global corporation with a new CI. Its leap forward as a global total water service provider has finally begun by carrying out not only state-funded projects but also overseas and new renewable energy projects.

2010s: Making a Korean Wave in the Water Industry

A regional office system was established to increase the tap water drinking rate by providing healthy tap water and to integrate water management systems. Showcasing innovative water management schemes at the 7th World Water Forum in April 2015, we led the foundation of the Asia Water Council. Based on this, we have transferred our 50 years of water management know-how overseas including with the Nenskra Project in Georgia.