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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WATERRiver restoration and sustainable water managementImage: K-waterThe Gangjeong Goryeong Weir before (left) and after (right)An example of sustainable water management is the Four Major RiversRestoration Project. 21 As its name implies, restoring the health of the riversis among the large-scale project’s holistic aims, which also include resilienceto extreme weather events and the economic and cultural stimulation ofriverside communities. The project involves the construction of 16 multipurposebarrages or weirs (completed in 2012) and dredging, as well asthe revitalization of the riverside into ecological parks, camping sites, sportsfacilities, docks and nearly 1,800 km of cycle paths. These recreationalareas have increased the value of the rivers and adjacent land and havepromoted economic activity. Natural waterways and fish paths have alsobeen restored. The barrages or weirs have led to the decrease in flood levelof the main river by 2-4 metres despite record rainfall. Flood damage hasbeen greatly reduced as a result, even though four typhoons passed throughthe country in 2012. The project has also secured 1.17 billion m 3 of waterresources, ensuring stable water supply despite the severe droughts of Mayand June the same year. Thus, the project symbolizes green growth throughreduced economic loss, economic stimulation in the waterfront areas, andimproved water quality and restored natural waterway function.resources. 14 K-water is the public corporation directly responsiblefor Korea’s water administration, with its activities influenced bythree ministries: Security and Public Administration, Environment,and Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT). These ministriesconsult with each other granting approval, setting regulation,establishing the national plans and providing subsidies for theoperation of water services and projects. K-water is accountableto MOLIT, which oversees its operations. In turn, K-water provideswater to industrial consumers and contracts with local governmentsto provide them with water through the multi-regionalsystems. Local governments then provide water and sewerageservices to households and industry. Thus, the very organizationalframework of water management in Korea involves close cooperationamong government agencies, K-water, local governments andthe private sector.Cooperation was an essential part of Korea’s development. The iconicexample is the Saemaeul Undong, or New Village Movement, duringthe 1970s. The movement began with the aim of improving the livingenvironment of rural farming communities. Due to its early success, themovement was expanded to a nationwide scale with more ambitiousgoals. Village communities were categorized into three groups dependingon their level of self-improvement, with more aid allocated to themore successful groups. This movement rallied the national spirit todiligence, self-improvement and collective efforts while at the same timeincreasing the competitiveness of villages for government aid. Amongthe KRW 3.4 trillion invested in the movement during the 1970s, nearlyhalf was contributed by residents themselves. 15 Furthermore, the movementexpanded far beyond the scope of agriculture, giving rise to theUrban Saemaeul Undong, Regional Saemaeul Undong,Women’s Saemaeul Undong, Workplace SaemaeulUndong, Factory Saemaeul Undong, Saemaeul TeenagersUndong and a number of other Saemaeul movements. 16 Asa result of the movement, besides increases in agriculturalproductivity, basic infrastructure was laid through thepaving of roads, maintaining of small rivers and streams,installation of waterworks and drainage systems, andprovision of electricity and telephones to every village.More pertinently, the involvement of the privatesector in national water resources development exemplifiescooperation for national economic growth. Inthe case of the Soyanggang Dam, Hyundai Engineeringand Construction was contracted to build the dam.The project began in 1967 with actual constructionbeginning the following year, and finished in 1973,upon which the dam became the motive force forthe Miracle on the Han River. 17 Initially, a Japaneseconstruction company had proposed building aconcrete dam, but given Korea’s limited cementproduction capacity, and upon Hyundai’s proposalfor a rock-filled dam that would cost the nation farless, Hyundai became the private constructor. Theconstruction was a notable feat, given the notion thata rock-filled dam could only be feasible economicallyup to a height of 30 metres. At a height of 123 metres,the Soyanggang Dam is the tallest dam in Korea. Anadditional, and perhaps greater, significance of the[ 269 ]