K-water reappointed as AWC chair organization for three-year term at 26th board meeting in Bangkok

Re-election to bolster role in tackling Asia's water challenges and supporting Korean water firms abroad

Korea Water Resources Corporation President Yoon Seok-dae (sixth from left, front row) poses with other key attendees at the 26th Asia Water Council board meeting held Friday in Bangkok, Thailand. [Korea Water Resources Corporation]
Korea Water Resources Corporation President Yoon Seok-dae (sixth from left, front row) poses with other key attendees at the 26th Asia Water Council board meeting held Friday in Bangkok, Thailand. [Korea Water Resources Corporation]

Korea Water Resources Corporation, known as K-water, said Friday it had been re-elected as chair organization of the Asia Water Council at the body's 26th board meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

The AWC is a multilateral cooperation platform established to address water challenges across Asia and strengthen international collaboration. It currently counts 194 member organizations from 28 countries. K-water has led the council since helping found it in 2016, serving as both chair organization and secretariat and steadily expanding the cooperation network among member institutions.

The re-election reflects K-water's decade-long efforts to build an international cooperation network through the AWC and advance joint water management projects with member organizations.

K-water has particularly worked to create a forum for international exchange on Asia's water management issues through the Asia International Water Week (AIWW).

The corporation has also actively supported member countries in building practical water management capacity through broad partnerships spanning national governments, international organizations and private companies.

More recently, K-water has expanded cooperation with international bodies including the UN.

In May 2025, K-water obtained accredited entity status under the UN Environment Programme for the water sector. In February, it signed a strategic partnership with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific to strengthen resilience against water-related climate change. Those agreements have laid the groundwork for extending water management cooperation beyond Asia into the Pacific region.

With the re-election securing K-water's leadership of the AWC from November 2026 through November 2029, the corporation plans to build on its existing cooperation network and diversify effective projects aimed at resolving Asia's water challenges.

K-water intends particularly to lead the international spread of advanced water management techniques incorporating AI and digital twin technology, and to use that platform to actively support Korean water companies with strong technological capabilities in expanding into overseas markets.

"This re-election as AWC chair organization is a meaningful recognition of the multilateral international cooperation efforts we have pursued together with member organizations over the past decade," K-water President Yoon Seok-dae said. "We will continue to contribute to solving global water challenges through cooperation platforms such as Asia International Water Week, and faithfully fulfill our role as a gateway for Korea's excellent water technology to reach overseas markets."


thlee@heraldcorp.com