K-water Participates in Project to Reconstruct Uman, Ukraine

President Yun Seog-dae of K-water. (Photos: K-water)

Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water) was selected as the winner of a project to establish a master plan on Uman’s smart city in Ukraine, organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corp., K-water said on Aug. 24.

The project on Uman’s smart city is the first project related to Ukraine’s reconstruction awarded by the Korean government. The project is one of K-city network projects MOLIT and KIND designated to export Korean smart city technologies abroad in June.

K-water formed a consortium with Cheil Engineering, Korea Planning Association, Han-A Urban Research Institute, and KPMG Samjong to participate in the bidding.

The consortium proposed development strategies, such as urban planning and plans to invigorate the tourism industry, connecting a local hub city, based on Uman’s concern and regional characteristics.

A briefing session on the launch of the project will take place in September, and the project is to be completed in April 2024.

In order to implement the project, K-water plans to make the most of the rich city construction experience, knowhow and expertise capabilities the corporation has obtained while building Busan Eco Delta City and Smart City.

A bird’s eye-view of the “Smart Village” in Busan Eco Delta City.

Earlier, K-water struck a deal with UHE, a public entity on the operation of hydro dams in Ukraine and both sides agreed to cooperate in the water and energy sectors.

K-water President Yun Seog-dae said, “The project will be implemented without interruption to ramp up a cooperative regime between the two countries.”

K-water will provide support to Korean companies’ overseas entry and raise the standing as a public entity by participating in the reconstruction of the war-torn Ukraine, utilizing its expertise in the water and energy sectors, he said.

K-water Submits Application on Dedication Permit on Yeongju Dam

K-water is taking followup steps, such as applying for a dedication permit following an agreement on the dedication of the Yeongju Dam.

K-water President Yun Seog-dae signed an agreement on the dedication of the Yeongju Dam with Minister of Environment Han Hwa-jin, Chairman Kim Hong-il of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov. Lee Cheol-woo and others on Aug. 10.

They agreed on the early dedication of the dam at K-water Yeongju branch office.

Following the deal, K-water plans to submit an application on the dedication permit on the Yeongju Dam and obtain approval on the project, which has been floated for the past seven years.

K-water Enters Alert Mode for Typhoon Khanun

K-water retained an emergency mode until Typhoon Khanun, the sixth typhoon to hit the nation, slipped off the North Korean area past South Korea.

K-water took the step as the water level of the Pilseung Bridge along the Imjin River, topping 1 meter on Aug. 7, was caused by the opening of the Watergates of the Hwanggang Dam in North Korea and the corporation continued to conduct watch out North Korea’s developments until the typhoon slipped out of the Korean Peninsula.

K-water President Yun Seog-dae convened an emergency meeting against the typhoon on Aug. 10.

He told the meeting, “Heavy downpours are expected to hit North Korea in the wake of Typhoon Khanun’s heading northward, triggering fears on North’s unnoticed release of water and special watch and steps need to be taken against prior symptoms in the border areas, including the Gunnam Dam.”