Water Resources Management in South Korea

Abstract

This chapter covers the following key topics: an overview of the current state of water resources availability and use characteristics of rivers, large reservoirs, water quality management, water-related natural disasters, and the future water resources management in South Korea. The average annual rainfall in the past 30 years is about 1300 mm, which is greater than world’s average annual rainfall, but the spatial and temporal variance is large. Most rivers show characteristics of short lengths and steep slopes, releasing a significant amount of water. These features make the downstream region relatively more vulnerable to massive floods during the wet season. The significant annual fluctuations in water level make water resources development and management difficult. In comparison, South Korea has a larger river regime coefficient than other countries. Therefore, many of these reservoirs are built to store water during the wet season and supply water during the dry season. In the 1960s, South Korea’s rapid industrialization has led to a severe deterioration in water quality in most rivers. Since the 1980s, many environmental infrastructures have been built to improve water quality. Therefore, future water resources management strategies in South Korea should focus on (a) establishing a safe and robust foundation for flood control, (b) supplying clean and sufficient water for people and nature, and (c) enhancing sustainable water quality and ecosystem management.