[Courtesy of Daegu Metropolitan City]
[Courtesy of Daegu Metropolitan City]

Korea International Water Week 2026 opened Wednesday at EXCO in Daegu.

Daegu Metropolitan City held the opening ceremony for Korea International Water Week (KIWW) 2026 that day, with about 350 key figures from the water industry in Korea and abroad in attendance.

Water sector leaders from Korea and overseas began in-depth discussions on sustainable water management, smart innovation and expanding international cooperation.

Held under the theme "Water, Energy, AI: Protecting Our Future," the event drew government officials and representatives from international organizations. Attendees included Geum Han-seung, first vice minister of the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy, and Pon Sachak, undersecretary of state at Cambodia's Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology. Also attending were Andrea Kundo Matthew, deputy permanent secretary at Tanzania's Ministry of Water, and Brent Tippie, president of the American Water Works Association. Kwon Han-jun, regional managing director for Asia-Pacific at NSF, also attended. Corporate attendees included Samsung Electronics Executive Vice President Song Doo-geun and SK hynix Executive Vice President Kim Hyung-hwan.

About 20 senior water sector officials from Korea and abroad attended the Water Leaders Roundtable held that afternoon, discussing safe water supply, water reuse, water-energy linkages, AI-based smart water management and avenues for international cooperation.

Following the high-level discussions, participants adopted an action declaration aimed at sustainable water management and expanded international cooperation.

"Daegu is supporting everything from research and development of water technology to demonstration, certification and commercialization, centered on the National Water Industry Cluster," Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho said in a welcoming speech. "We hope this International Water Week will serve as a business platform that leads to real contracts and overseas expansion for outstanding water companies."

Meanwhile, Korea International Water Week 2026 will run through Friday at EXCO with about 50 programs, including the World Water Cities Forum, the World Water Cluster Leaders Forum, business consultation sessions and a water industry exhibition.


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com