The document discusses Korea's substantial advancements in water supply and sanitation from 1961 to 2012, highlighting improvements in coverage and investments driven by government initiatives and foreign aid. Key success factors include effective planning, financial investment, and community engagement through the 'New Village Movement' which emphasized local cooperation and infrastructure development. Lessons learned underscore the importance of integrating water sector development into economic growth strategies and the role of comprehensive monitoring and regulatory frameworks.

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.