Seoul water agency takes its expertise abroad through 5-year internship program
Summary
The Seoul Water Recycling Corporation has spent five years turning its treatment facilities into classrooms for public officials from abroad, sharing Seoul’s water management expertise with officials from 11 countries. The agency received a plaque of appreciation at the University of Seoul’s 2026 Global Friends Night on Friday. The program began in 2022 through a partnership with the University of Seoul after a 2021 academic-industry cooperation agreement. It is linked to a master’s degree program for public officials from countries working with Korea on environmental cooperation.
Key Facts
- The internship program has involved 13 officials from 11 countries through this year.
- Officials from water environment agencies in Vietnam, Algeria, Egypt, Rwanda and seven other countries have completed the program.
- On July 24, the corporation supported a visit to the Seonam Water Recycling Center by officials from the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research.
- The corporation said it plans to expand internships, facility tours and other international exchange programs while sharing Seoul’s water recycling technology and operational know-how with developing countries.
A view of the Arisu Water Purification Center in Guui, Seoul / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
The Seoul Water Recycling Corporation has spent five years turning its treatment facilities into classrooms for public officials from abroad, sharing the city’s water management expertise with 13 officials from 11 countries.
The agency received a plaque of appreciation at the University of Seoul’s 2026 Global Friends Night on Friday in recognition of its international cooperation efforts.
The program began in 2022 through a partnership with the University of Seoul, following a 2021 academic-industry cooperation agreement, and is linked to a master’s degree program for public officials from countries working with Korea on environmental cooperation.
Officials from water environment agencies in Vietnam, Algeria, Egypt, Rwanda and seven other countries have completed the hands-on internship through this year.
Participants visit the corporation’s water recycling centers, study Seoul’s treatment technologies and operating practices, and examine approaches that could be adapted to water environment policies and facilities in their home countries.
The program has also grown beyond internships, with the corporation supporting technical exchanges and visits by overseas specialists to Seoul’s facilities.
On July 24, at the request of the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, the corporation supported a visit to the Seonam Water Recycling Center by officials from the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research.
The corporation said it plans to expand internships, facility tours and other international exchange programs while sharing Seoul’s water recycling technology and operational know-how with developing countries.
Hong Nam-ki, executive director of management and technology at the Seoul Water Recycling Corporation, said the agency had spent the past five years exchanging expertise with water environment officials from 11 countries.
“We will continue to actively share our technology and know-how and expand international cooperation,” Hong said.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
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