Restructuring of Water Governance Institution in Korea

우리나라 물관리 체제의 혁신

In Korea, water management policy had been successfully conducted until late 1980's. During the period, fundamental needs of human-being, such as requirements of drinking and irrigation waters and flood protection for living, had been satisfied. However, most of recent water problems occurred after the late 1980's such as water quality management and new water resources development, have been unresolved and accumulated. Because, our water governing institutions have become ineffective as water management issue has been changed gradually from fundamental human needs such as water supply and/or flood protection to complex/integrated issues, for example, river restoration. To solve those water problems accumulated, we needs a new paradigm of water governing institution such as setting up national water management committee and river basin committee, in order to coordinate water-related ministries' policies and establish national water resources planning in an integrated format.