Dignitaries, including Environment Minister Han Jeong-ae, Gyeongsangnam-do Gov. Kim Kyung-soo and Chairman Huh Jae-young of the Water Commission attend a ceremony to mark 2021 World Water Day at Bexco in Busan on Mar. 22. (Photo: Ministry of Environment)

The government held a ceremony to mark 2021 World Water Day under the theme “The Value of Water, the Value to Future” at BEXCO in Busan on Feb. 22. During the event, the government awarded prizes to 16 people who contributed to the water management sector — one order, one medal, six presidential awards and eight prime minister’s awards.

The coveted Order of Service Merit, Red Stripes went to Prof. Kim Jwa-kwan of Catholic University of Busan.

The United Nations designated World Water Day on March 22, 1992, to promote awareness of a shortage of drinking water globally, caused by a rising population and industrialization.

The Korean government has held an annual anniversary ceremony since 1995 to remind of the purpose of World Water Day and global efforts.
The theme of the 29th World Water Day is “Valuing Water.”

This year’s World Water Day asks what water means to each member country. In this regard, the Korean government set the theme of 2021 World Water day “The Value of Water, the Value to Future.”

On the same day, the Environment Ministry and the Federation of Water Science and Engineering Societies (KFWSES) jointly hosted a policy seminar on the occasion of 2021 World Water Day.

Experts from academia, environmental organizations and water management institutions discussed views on policies related to future water management under the theme “The Value of Water Nature and Humanity Share Together.”

Following the event, Environment Minister Han Jeoung-ae toured an embankment of the estuary of Naktong River and participated in a signboard hanging ceremony on an integrated operation center on the estuary of Naktong River among related government agencies.

Minister Han said, “The values of water is too diverse to enumerate, and all efforts to retain the values of water will be summed up as ‘Green New Deal’ and carbon neutrality.”

The Environment Ministry, a ministry responsible for water management and carbon neutrality policies, will devote itself to ensuring people’s safety from water and climate change dangers, she said.

Meanwhile, K-water, under the umbrella of the Environment Ministry, is inviting entries to an emoticon design contest celebrating World Water Day from March 22 until April 29.

K-water Awards Winners of Video Contest Marking World Water Day

K-water held an awards ceremony of a video contest celebrating the 19th World Water Day anniversary at K-water headquarters in Daedeok, Daejeon City, on March 19.

The video contest, organized by K-water, received 151 entries in two categories of adult and high school students or below categories.

Twenty-four entries were selected initially by a five-member panel, based on creativity, public interest and information delivery and expressiveness before finalists were determined by an on-line evaluation through the general public’s votes.

The top-prize environment minster’s award went to an entity related to the washing of hands with tap water in the general public category and an entry, tilted “Smart Life” in the other category.

K-water President Park Jae-hyeon said, “I expect this to serve as an opportunity to awaken the important value of water once again on the occasion of World Water Day, and K-water, an public entity responsible for eco-friendly water management, will do its utmost to help all the people enjoy safe and clean water.”