Korea Water Resources Development Corporation (K-water) announced that it showcased its cutting-edge water technologies and expanded global partnerships at the Korea International Water Week (KIWW) 2026 which kicked off at EXCO in Daegu on Sept. 9.
The KIWW, the nation’s largest international event in the water sector, began its three-day run at EXCO in Daegu.
K-water co-hosted the event with the Ministry of Environment and Daegu Metropolitan City, sharing strategies to overcome the global water crisis and visions for sustainable future water management practices under the theme of “Water, Energy, and AI: Safeguarding Our Future.”
At the event, K-water ran a dedicated exhibition booth featuring advanced AI and digital technologies to showcase its world-class water management capabilities.
Key technologies on display included the Digital Twin Water Management Platform and AI Water Treatment Plant, which ranked first and third, respectively, in government-selected public institution innovation projects and Smart Water Network Management, which became the first technology from a domestic public institution to win the GLOMO Prize at the Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest mobile exhibition, in March.
The international community is facing a critical turning point where stable availability of water and energy — amidst the climate crisis and the massive shift toward AI — determines national competitiveness and survival.
Consequently, water is emerging as a key strategic resource that underpins global industrial competitiveness and resource security and transcending its role as mere utility infrastructure.
The global water market is projected to grow to approximately 1,654 trillion won by 2029.
K-water has long pursued the digital transformation of water management and the cultivation of “super-wide gap” technologies as core strategies.
Super-wide gap technologies refer to differentiated technologies that establish such a significant lead in technical capability that competitors or other nations cannot catch up in the short term.
Building on this foundation, the corporation has secured an early foothold in the high-value-added future water market and expand infrastructure needed to revitalize Korea water industry ecosystems.
Leveraging the Korea International Water Week event, K-water will once again demonstrate its proven technological prowess on the global stage and create new growth engines for Korean water companies within the rapidly changing global market.
“In an era marked by accelerating climate crises and a transition to high-tech industries, water and energy are matters of national security and key strategic resources driving sustainable growth,” K-water President Yun Seog-dae said.
“Through the Korea International Water Week, we will connect our proven cutting-edge water technologies with the world and expand our entry into the global market alongside other innovative Korean companies.”
Forging Partnership with AWWA
On Sept. 8, K-water signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Korea Water and Wastewater Works Association (KWWA) at its headquarters in Daejeon, aiming to expand global test beds in the U.S. market and broaden a bridgehead for Korean water companies to enter the United States.
The AWWA comprises approximately 4,300 member organizations and over 50,000 professionals.
The agreement was initiated to systematically identify opportunities for field demonstrations based on local U.S. demand and to strengthen the foundation for Korean water companies to enter the U.S. market.
Recently, a need to upgrade aging water infrastructure and respond to the climate crisis in the U.S. has driven a steady rise in interest regarding and demand for innovative technologies from Korean water companies.
Conversely, Korean water companies have faced challenges in entering the U.S. market due to a lack of local market information and data, difficulties in securing demonstration opportunities and initial track records and limited networks with local business partners in the US.
Through this agreement, K-water will serve as a bridge connecting local U.S. technology needs with outstanding Korean water companies.
In particular, by leveraging the extensive network of the AWWA, K-water aims to systematically match the U.S. market’s technology requirements with advanced technologies offered by Korean water companies.
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