Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment launches call for applications for 2027 water-cycle promotion zones

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment sign at Government Complex Sejong [Newsis]
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment sign at Government Complex Sejong [Newsis]

South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said Wednesday it will accept applications from local governments nationwide for designation as 2027 water-cycle promotion zones, with the call running for about three months starting Wednesday.

Water-cycle promotion zones are areas where improving water circulation is urgent or where such improvements would have a significant ripple effect. The ministry plans to designate qualifying areas and carry out comprehensive projects tailored to each region's water management conditions and characteristics.

This year's call resulted in four designations — Gunsan, Jecheon, Jeungpyeong-gun and Cheonan — and work on comprehensive water-cycle promotion plans for those areas is now underway.

Through this round of applications, the ministry aims to designate two additional promotion zones in 2027, continuing its efforts to address complex water management challenges at the local level.

The call is open to all local governments across the country. When a proposed zone spans the jurisdictions of two or more local governments, those governments must submit a joint application.

Eligible areas include those with high water-cycle vulnerability or those previously declared special disaster zones following water-related disasters or emergencies.

Local governments wishing to apply must gather input from residents and relevant experts before submitting their applications. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from the evaluation process.

The ministry will accept application documents from local governments from Jan. 25 to Jan. 27 next year, with a daily deadline of 6 p.m. Candidate zones will then be selected through expert evaluation, and two areas will be officially designated as water-cycle promotion zones in the first half of next year following review by the River Basin Water Management Committee.

Comprehensive plans drawn up for designated zones will incorporate projects proposed by local governments along with assessments of local water-cycle conditions and water management issues. The plans will pursue initiatives suited to each area's characteristics, including expanding stable water supply infrastructure and preventing flood damage.

The ministry will offer individual consultations to interested local governments through the Korea Water Resources Corporation's Water Cycle Promotion Support Center, providing guidance on completing application forms and project proposals.

"As climate change drives more frequent droughts and floods and water management conditions grow increasingly difficult, locally tailored water-cycle promotion projects represent a new solution to regional water challenges," said Kim Ho-eun, the ministry's director general for water use policy. "We will actively support these efforts so that water-cycle promotion projects take root in communities and deliver results that people can feel."


thlee@heraldcorp.com