Jong Ho Ahn, Ph.D./Senior Research Fellow
Korea Environment Institute
Policy Research Group
Division of Water Environment
Special Regional Session: Achieving water security for Asia and the Pacific through sustainable water management.
An Atoll Futures Research Institute? Presentation for CANCC
Asian Session: Jong Ho Ahn, KEI, 15th January UN Water Zaragoza Conference 2015
1. Transformation of Water & Sanitation in Korea
Jong Ho Ahn, Ph.D./Senior Research Fellow
Korea Environment Institute
Policy Research Group
Division of Water Environment
2. 2
Case of Korea – Water Supply and Sanitation
Achievements
• GNI per capita: US$85 (1961) US$26,204 (2012)
• Water supply coverage: from 17% (1961) to 98% (2012)
• Wastewater services coverage: from 2% (1961) to 92% (2012)
• Proper accounting of all costs and revenues of the sector since early
reform
• Population concern on environmental pollution forced immediate actions
• GNI per capita: US$85 (1961) US$26,204 (2012)
• Water supply coverage: from 17% (1961) to 98% (2012)
• Wastewater services coverage: from 2% (1961) to 92% (2012)
• Proper accounting of all costs and revenues of the sector since early
reform
• Population concern on environmental pollution forced immediate actions
(Source) A Study on the Vision 2050 of
Wastewater Policy, MOE,2012.
(Key Success Factors)
Government-initiated
financial investment and
adequate preparation of a
water resource management
system
Developing
water resources
Introducing
WWT system
Expanding
sewer system
Expanding
national water
supply networks
3. 3
Important Government's Roles in Success
Regarding water sector development as an integral part of the
transformation
of the economy
Implementing the laws, regulations, institutions, and financial
resources
Strongly pushing through monitoring and reporting for progress
Case of Korea – Lessons learnt
What has worked well
The water infrastructure has been developed in accordance with a plan
to promote the economic development.
The investment in water infrastructure at the initial stage of
economic development was possible thanks to foreign aid.
Investment in water sector requires activities and economic
investment, and these efforts have contributed to technology development
and job creation, either directly or indirectly.
4. 4
Case of Korea – The New Village Movement “Sae-Maeul
Undong”*
“Sae-Maeul Undong”
Incubated Initiative by the Leadership
Principles: Diligence, Self-reliance, and
Cooperation
Simple to multiple benefits to fight rural
poverty
- From improving basic livelihood
infrastructure
To income growth
Vertical coordination & Horizontal integration
- Three actors : president, central-local
government,
village (leader and
community)
- Education, evaluation, competition, reward,
pride
Water
Feces
Water-related Development Operations
Irrigation (small reservoir, weir,
canal)
Water supply system
Sewerage network and sanitation
facility
☜ Helminth infection rate in the young
students : 71.3% (1971) 0.6%
(1991)
Hong et al., 2006 * This slide has been reproduced by courtesy of Dr. IJ Kim.