(Unofficial translation)

Fellow Koreans, citizens of Daegu and distinguished guests,

While commemorating the United Nations’ World Water Day, I am deeply grateful to all of those who have dedicated themselves to preserving and managing water. I also offer my heartfelt congratulations to everyone who has been honored with an award today.

Water is the root of all living things. Wherever humans tread, there is water. Our communities are formed around water. It would not be possible to talk about life and civilization without bringing up water.

Water is a human right. Since long ago, water management has indeed had a direct bearing on the lives of the people. Water should be neither in shortage nor overabundance. Securing a stable supply of clean water is about guaranteeing the basic rights that our people deserve.

Water also equals the economy. Only when there is water will it be possible to grow crops and operate factories. Energy can also be obtained by building power plants. Moreover, water-related industries are emerging as a new growth sector in the era of climate change and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Fellow Koreans and Daegu citizens, 

Previous administrations have worked hard to secure a stable supply of water and, at the same time, to prevent disasters.

Now, however, we need new plans. Abnormal weather conditions and natural disasters caused by climate change will occur more frequently and more devastatingly. Natural disasters are mostly water related, including floods, typhoons, droughts and heavy snows. We need fundamental measures to address water-related issues as well as changes in sustainable water management plans that consider the environment and ecosystem.

There are limits to policies that mainly focus on the amount of water and post-disaster recovery. We need to go beyond the past perspective of viewing water as something to be preserved or regulated. What is required is a more active shift in perspective toward new growth engines in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and coexistence between the environment and new industries.

Last year, my Administration helped enact the “Framework Act on Water Management” for the first time in history. We have begun the integrated management of water, an item essential for all life forms, one that assures the public can live safely and that serves as a new growth engine.

On the occasion of World Water Day 2019 today, I will outline the Government's integrated water management policy for you. 

First, access to clean water must be guaranteed always no matter where or who you are. 

The Government will ensure that safe water is supplied to islands as well as to farming and fishing villages. This year, the Government will inject 225.2 billion won into upgrading dilapidated water supply facilities and 144.9 billion won into developing drinking water sources for island regions. 

Second, the Government will create an environment that is safe from water-related disasters. 

By accurately analyzing the water supply capacities of dams and effectively redistributing water resources, the Government will make it possible to use water in a stable manner even during a drought. 

Flood prevention starts with precise forecasting. By sharing information on possible precipitation and water levels at dams on a real time basis as well as establishing an integrated control center, the Government will immediately respond to floods in mountainous areas and those along rivers.

The stability of dams and facilities for water supply and sewage will be enhanced. The Government will overhaul mid- to large-sized water pipes that have been used for more than 20 years as early as possible and push ahead with a project to stabilize water supply facilities to protect against the accidental loss of service. 

The Government's integrated water management plan incorporates new visions of not only supplying safe water but also emerging as an innovative water industry powerhouse. 

Due to climate change and technological advances in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the global water industry is gradually expanding its scope. Up until now, the water industry has been mainly confined to the circulation of water from dams, streams, water pipes and faucets to sewers, but its market is growing day by day as the industry has recently expanded to include smart water management and the energy sector. The global water industry market, which is now valued at over US$700 billion, is expected to grow at an annual average rate of more than 4 percent until 2022.

The Government will provide strategic support so that local technologically competitive water companies can enter the global market. 

The construction of a national water industry cluster in Daegu will soon be completed in June this year. The cluster will consist of spaces for about 100 facilities for water-related R&D and demonstrations as well as relevant businesses.    

The Government will help develop and distribute innovative technology for the water industry and promote the domestic water industry through this cluster. It will assist in all pertinent areas from R&D and technological performance verification and certification to commercialization and entry into overseas markets. It will also expand infrastructure to support new startups, including the establishment of a convergence platform for water-related big data.   

Fellow Koreans and Daegu citizens, 

Several past water pollution incidents put the safety of drinking water from the Nakdonggang River basin at risk for the 13 million people in the country’s southeastern region who rely on it. Perhaps no one more desperately feels the need for comprehensive water management than the residents living near the Nakdonggang and Geumhogang river basins, the lifeline of Daegu. 

The Nakdonggang has a long watershed reaching down to Busan from Gangwon-do Province, and there are many local governments, densely populated areas and industrial complexes along the river basin. In addition, the water flows at a slow speed, and the amount also drops off in the dry season. Naturally, managing its water quality is difficult, and there have been quite a few conflicts among local governments in the upper and lower regions of the river that rely on it for drinking water. 

Thus, previous governments have always made solving Nakdonggang water issues an important goal, and they have also striven to supply clean tap water to households through highly sophisticated purification procedures. However, these are not enough. The water quality of the Nakdonggang itself must be improved as a water source.      

As Daegu citizens, local governments, the central Government and related companies have come together to solve these problems, Daegu has become a water industry hub. Moreover, as the national water industry cluster takes shape, Daegu is emerging as the core that will lead the development of the Republic of Korea’s water industry. 

Our dream of taking the lead in the global water industry market in the years to come will be realized at the national water industry cluster here in Daegu. In addition, I expect that it will play a significant role in improving the water quality of the Nakdonggang. 

The Government will keep pace with the citizens here along the path toward building Daegu into the world’s leading water industry city.  

Thank you.