Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
Korea Water Cluster launches pilot project for low-carbon mineral detergent innovation
Lee Jae-won, left, director general of the Korea Water Cluster, holds a memorandum of understanding for an agreement for a low-carbon mineral detergent pilot project, jointly signed by Korea Water Forum President Kwak Kyul-ho, center, and LG Electronics Vice President Baek Seung-tae at the headquarters of the Korea Water Cluster in Daegu, June 26. Courtesy of Korea Water Cluster
By Anna J. Park
The Korea Water Cluster, a government-led hub supporting R&D and commercialization in the water sector, announced Friday that it has partnered with LG Electronics and the Korea Water Forum — Korea’s leading international nonprofit organization in the water sector — to launch a pilot project focused on developing and validating low-carbon mineral detergent technology.
The initiative centers on the mechanism of mineral detergent washing, which leverages soluble glass and other mineral-based ingredients to achieve low-temperature washing performance, significantly reducing energy consumption, water usage and reliance on commercial chemical detergents.
The project aims to deliver a synergetic effect by combining cutting-edge technology with sustainable practices to promote broader societal adoption of eco-conscious cleaning methods. The project offers specialized performance, enabling effective cleaning with low damage to laundry while also prioritizing user safety. A clinical test for sensitive skin safety is being conducted to ensure the detergent’s suitability for everyday use across diverse populations.
A key feature of the pilot project is its potential to deliver measurable environmental benefits of up to 50 percent water usage reduction. By minimizing dependence on conventional detergents, the initiative also contributes to ecosystem protection and carbon footprint reduction.
This collaboration is expected to serve as a model for public-private cooperation, accelerating the commercialization of water cluster tenant companies' technologies and paving the way for their global expansion.
In particular, the project will assess the viability of surfactant-free mineral detergents for use in everyday laundry, marking a significant advancement in the practical application of eco-friendly solutions.
“This MOU (memorandum of understanding) represents a highly meaningful opportunity for companies within our cluster,” said Lee Jae-won, director general of the Korea Water Cluster. “Beyond simple demonstration, we plan to continuously strengthen follow-up support so these technologies can be validated in collaboration with major corporations and lead to tangible outcomes in the global market.”
Furthermore, the project seeks to build a foundation for the international dissemination of “Water Positive” technologies, further positioning Korea as a leader in sustainable water innovation.