Water industry export volume South Korea 2021, by region

In 2021, China came first in terms of export destinations by the South Korean water industry with a value of approximately 430 billion South Korean won. The Middle East came in second with around 377 billion won. The lack of natural resources in South Korea has meant that the country had to develop expertise in building dams and operating hydropower plants to provide sufficient water and energy for its large population.

South Korea’s water management

In South Korea, the main sources of drinkable water are dams, rivers, and groundwater. Most of the water available for use comes from dams, while water from river basins is almost fully allocated for some other kind of use. To tackle the issue of water scarcity, the South Korean government has invested over 800 billion won in research and development within the water industry.

Wastewater treatment

Part of efforts to secure an adequate supply of water in the country is the processing and reusing of wastewater. In 2020, South Korea treated over 19 million cubic meters of wastewater daily. This has steadily increased on average in the past 10 years and is likely to continue growing with further consumption.