K-water forges stronger partnership with envoys from 5 Mekong nations

Korea Water Resources Corp. CEO Yun Seog-dae, center, delivers opening remarks at a meeting with ambassadors from five Mekong River-adjacent countries in Seongbuk District, Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Korea Water Resources Corp.

Korea Water Resources Corp. CEO Yun Seog-dae met Friday with ambassadors from five Mekong River-adjacent countries — Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand — in Seoul to discuss closer cooperation on sustainable water management as climate challenges intensify.

The meeting, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, reviewed past cooperation and mapped out plans to expand future collaboration.

The Mekong River basin, which stretches more than 4,300 kilometers across Southeast Asia and is home to about 250 million people, is increasingly threatened by floods, droughts and pollution fueled by climate change and industrialization.

In a joint statement at the Korea-Vietnam summit in Seoul in August, the two nations reaffirmed their commitment to addressing water issues in the basin, and Friday’s meeting sought to turn that pledge into concrete action.

The corporation set up the Korea-Mekong Water Center in 2021 to build a cooperative framework for the region. Created under the Mekong-Han River Declaration adopted at the first summit in 2019, the center carries out a variety of joint projects.

On Friday, participants reviewed the corporation’s progress and discussed expanding cooperation, including new projects. The center has been hosting training for officials, promoting technology exchanges and carrying out 16 projects, including integrated water management systems and flood forecasting and warning systems.

Ambassadors from the five Mekong countries agreed on the need for Korea’s water management technology and expertise to address the region’s complex water challenges, highlighting the corporation’s digital strengths.

In May last year, the corporation signed an agreement with the Ministry of Environment and the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to develop projects using artificial intelligence and digital twin technology.

In March, the third Mekong-Korea International Water Forum discussed ways to support these efforts. Building on this, the corporation has continued talks with the MRC to introduce a digital twin-based integrated water management system.

“The Mekong region is a key driver of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ growth and an important economic and diplomatic partner for Korea thanks to its abundant water resources,” Yun said.

“We will step up multilateral cooperation on water and develop concrete plans for sustainable water management.”