The Korea Water Resources Corporation, also known as the K-Water, was hosting in Seoul in the “Korea-Mekong-Harmony dialogue” with ambassadors from five Mekong countries, including Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand.
The meeting was held in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Environment and checked past successes and discussed measures for sustainable water management in response to climate problems.
The Mekong River Basin, in which around 250 million people live, has suspended threats such as floods, drought and water pollution from climate change and industrialization.
K-Water supports the region through the “Mekong-Han Declaration” adopted in 2019 at the Korea-Mekong summit, which was founded in 2021 under the explanation “Mekong-Han River”. At the Korea Vietnam summit in August, the two governments confirmed their commitment to expanding the cooperation to Mekong Water questions.
K-Water has carried out 16 cooperation projects that range from integrated water management systems to flood forecasts and warning solutions and at the same time organize training programs and technical stock exchanges for Mekong officials. In May 2024, K-Water signed an agreement with the Ministry of the Environment and the Mekong River Commission for projects that used artificial intelligence and digital twin technologies.
K-Water and MRC examine the introduction of digital two-based systems that replicate upstream and downstream dam, enable AI-controlled water treatment plants and use the Smart Water Network Management to reduce the Internet of Things and to stabilize the pipelines.
“K-Water sees the Mekong countries both as a critical partner for the economic growth of Asean as well as as an important player in the economic and diplomatic cooperation of Koreas through plenty of water resources,” said Yun Seog-Dae, CEO of K-Wasser. “We want to further strengthen multilateral cooperation and promote sustainable water management strategies.”
andreahaneu@heraldcorp.com