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1960s: Water Resource Management, A Prelude to the Establishment of K-water
- With the government’s effort to promote the heavy chemical industry and to advance Korea’s industrial structure, the Korea Water Resources Corporation Act was enacted and promulgated on August 3, 1966 in accordance with the National Land Development Plan and the ‘Korea Water Resources Corporation’ was accordingly established on November 16, 1967. K-water has conducted numerous projects on comprehensive water resources development, its use and preservation, and has established a foundation to make significant contributions to national economic growth and the improvement of people’s lives. A new chapter on Korean water management history started.
- Aug. 03, 1966 Korea Water Resources Corporation Act was enacted/promulgated
- Nov. 16, 1967 Korea Water Resources Corporation was founded
- Dec. 18, 1967 2nd President Ahn Gyeong-Mo was inaugurated
- Mar. 05, 1968 Survey on the Four Major Rivers was initiated
- Feb. 01, 1969 1st Recruiting was conducted
- Jun. 15, 1969 Reclamation work of Seobinggo District was completed
1970s: Providing a Stepping Stone for National Growth
- The corporation was renamed the Industrial Sites Development Corporation as the Industrial Sites Development Corporation Act was enacted in December, 1973. With the long-accumulated experience in water resources development, the corporation took charge of national projects of developing national industrial bases. While establishing national industrial complexes in the cities of Yeosu, Changwon, Gumi and Onsan, it has solidified the foundation for Korea’s rapid growth. The cities have played a role of rock-solid buttress for Korean economy, even now. During this period, the construction works for Soyanggang Dam and Andong Dam were completed to serve a strong stepping stone for Korea’s growth.
- Jun. 30, 1973 Reclamation work for Gumi Industrial Complex was completed
- Oct. 10, 1973 Construction of Yeosu Industrial Complex started
- Oct. 15, 1973 Construction of Soyanggang Multi-purpose Dam was completed
- Nov. 19, 1973 Construction of Changwon Engineering Industrial Complex started
- Dec. 24, 1973 Industrial Sites Development Act was enacted
- Feb. 01, 1974 Industrial Sites Development Corporation was founded
- Oct. 15, 1974 Head office was relocated to Daejeon
- Oct. 28, 1976 Construction of Andong Multi-purpose Dam was completed
- Dec. 15, 1979 Purchased nation-wide industrial water facilities
1980s: Full-Fledged Transformation into a Water Resource-Specialized Organization
A drastic increase in water demand was witnessed with as people’s lifestyles changed and social demands for welfare improvement increased. In order to proactively respond to the demands of the times, the Korea Water Resources Corporation was reborn on July 1st, 1988 with the mission to be a general water resource management agency. During this period, we completed the construction of three dams, Nakdonggang Estuary Barrage, and established a foundation for waterworks by purchasing, operating, and managing water facilities.
- Dec. 02, 1980 Construction of Daecheong Multi-purpose Dam was completed
- May. 04, 1981 Purchased Phase 1/2 capital area-wide waterworks
- May. 04, 1982 National water supply system unification construction was completed
- Oct. 17, 1985 Construction of Chungju Multi-purpose Dam was completed
- Apr. 29, 1987 Sihwa District Development Project commenced
- Nov. 16, 1987 Construction of Nakdonggang Estuary Barrage was completed
- Jul. 01, 1988 Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) was re-organized
- Dec. 31, 1989 Construction of Hapcheon Multi-purpose Dam was completed
1990s: Towards Water, Nature and Humans
With the revision of the “Korea Water Resource Corporation Act” in November 1990, its work scope was expanded to include waterworks development and the construction of the metropolitan waterworks facilities commenced. Starting with the water supply facility in Ilsan New Town, which was completed in 1996, while the following construction projects were completed in their respective order:
Gwacheon, Seongnam, Paldang, Wonju, Taebaek and Chungju
This is also when the management philosophy of valuing water, nature and humans began to be established as it coincided with people’s heightened interest in nature and the environment.
- May. 10, 1991 Construction of Juam Multi-purpose Dam was completed
- May. 13, 1992 Construction of Imha Multi-purpose Dam was completed
- Nov. 27, 1992 Construction of water supply system in Ilsan New Town was completed
- Nov. 19, 1993 The phase 1 construction in Ansan New Town was completed
- May. 27, 1996 Construction of Buan Multi-purpose Dam was completed
- Jun. 30, 1996 Survey on Fenhe River Area, Sianxi, China was completed
- Nov. 30, 1998 Construction of Boryeong Multi-purpose Dam was completed
- Jan. 30, 1999 Phase 5 capital area-wide water supply system construction was completed
2000s: Striving to Become a Global Total Water Service Provider
With the opening of the WTO era and deepening inequality in water supply amongst nations, K-water declared the opening of the K-water Era in 2006 and presented a clear determination to leap forward as a global corporation with a new CI. Its leap forward as a global total water service provider has finally begun by carrying out not only state-funded projects but also overseas and new renewable energy projects.
- Oct. 25, 2000 Construction of Hoengseong Multi-purpose Dam was completed
- Feb. 10, 2001 Confirmed Sihwa Lake turned into a seawater lake
- Feb. 01, 2002 Water Management Center was built
- Dec. 30, 2003 Nonsan City Regional Waterworks Consignment Contract was signed
- Mar. 18, 2004 Construction of the International Water Analysis Center (IWAC) was completed
- Mar. 15, 2006 ‘K-water’ CI was declared
- Feb. 14, 2007 Construction of Capital Area-Wide Integrated Waterworks Operation Center was completed
- Aug. 16, 2007 Construction of Sihwa Multi Techno Valley was completed
- Nov. 22, 2009 Four Major Rivers Restoration Hope Declaration Ceremony
2010s: Making a Korean Wave in the Water Industry
A regional office system was established to increase the tap water drinking rate by providing healthy tap water and to integrate water management systems. Showcasing innovative water management schemes at the 7th World Water Forum in April 2015, we led the foundation of the Asia Water Council. Based on this, we have transferred our 50 years of water management know-how overseas including with the Nenskra Project in Georgia.
- Aug. 03, 2011 Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Plant operations commenced
- Nov. 03, 2011 Solar power plant on Hapcheon Multi-purpose Dam operations commenced
- May. 25, 2012 Gyeongin Waterway was opened
- Sep. 20, 2012 Four Rivers Cultural Pavilions and “The ARC” opened
- Dec. 26, 2012 Construction of Patrind Hydraulic Power Plant Project, Pakistan began
- Apr. 09, 2014 Paju Smart Water City Pilot Project Contract was concluded
- Oct. 31, 2014 Angat Dam Commercial Development, Philippines began
- Apr. 12 ~ 17, 2015 Co-hosted the 7th World Forum
- Apr. 15, 2015 Asia Water Council was founded
- Nov. 16, 2016 50th Anniversary New Management Policy was announced
- Sep. 20~23, 2017 Hosted the 1st Asia World Water Week
- Nov. 16, 2017 50th Anniversary Ceremony for the Next Century
- June. 08, 2018 transferred under the Ministry of Environment as a National Government Organization Act (revised)