water, nature and people - K

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spring
vol.33
2013
water,
nature
and
people
River of Korea
spring
Geum River
Originating from a valley in Mt. Shinmu, Jangsu-eub, North Jeolla Province, the Geum River, labeled as a river of history and
lyricism, passes through Gunsan and flows into the Yellow Sea. As the third-longest river in South Korea, the 401-kilometerlong river stretches to the Nakdong River to the east, the Han River to the north, and the Seomjin River to the south. The area
of the Geum River Basin is 9,885 square kilometers, making it a lifeline for its alluvial Honam Plain, a location of significant
agricultural production. During the kingdom of Baekje, the river had served as a cultural center as well as a waterway to export
culture to Japan. The Geum River is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, pleasant urban environments and abundant cultural
heritage, including Mt. Gyeryong, Mt. Songni and Mt. Deokyu national parks. Other sites include Mt. Daedun, Mt. Chilgap and
Mt. Mai provincial parks as well as Yuseong Hot Spring and Chojeong Mineral Spring.
water,
nature
and
people
Discover Korea
Geum River | During the kingdom of Baekje, the river
had served as a cultural center as well as a waterway to export
culture to Japan.
Jarikki | Hanbok designer Hyojaeʼs Korean style & Eco-
friendly life. There is an iconic, but little-used Korean word,
“jarikki,” which means a glass of water by the bedside.
Six Keywords to Enjoy Han River | Here are
special tips to enrich your travel experience through the Han
River.
The ARC | Four major rivers represent Korea and The
ARC is the only artistic architecture which reinterpreted the
culture of the rivers in an architectural manner.
Kwak Su-yeon | Using the traditional Korean folk art
that features paintings of mythical figures, or minhwa, Kwak
creates her own metaphor for dogs, drawing international
acclaim with her Korean-style pop art.
Maehwa Festivals | With its clear and refreshing
scent, maehwa flowers herald the start of spring in Korea.
Let’s follow the scent of maehwa.
K-water Issue
+
CONTENTS
Renewable Energy | The prospects for renewable
energy have looked brighter as it has emerged as sources
of sustainable energy as well as one of economic growth
engines in the future.
Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station | The term
“green technology” refers to a set of eco-friendly means
to produce clean and renewable energy using the sun, the
moon, wind and water.
K-water’s Daegu-Gyeongbuk
Regional Management Office | Let’s see how
they overcome drowsiness during these spring days.
Sharing love | Employees at K-water’s Water Quality
spring
vol.33
02 River of Korea
04 Intro
06 Landscape
14 Water landmark
18 Culture
22 Festival
26 K-water special
32 K-water project
36 K-water people
Analysis Center volunteered to provide free meals to elderly
people who live alone.
38 Volunteer
K-water signs MOU to build hydroelectric power plant in
PAKISTAN / K-water opens ‘southeast asia business division’
in BANGKOK / K-water’s CDM project on four Major Rivers
registered by UN
40 K-water news
Water Solution | Good habits keep you healthy and
feeling good. You can keep your body healthy if you drink
water well.
Flourish! Bibimbap | The beauty of bibimbap is in
the perfect harmony between various tastes and nutrition that
results from mixing various ingredients into a bowl, making it
popular around the world.
2013
42 Water and Life
43 K-style
Intro
Hanbok designer Hyojaeʼs
Korean style & eco-friendly life
Jarikki
Editor Kim Il-a Writing Hyojae Photographer Hong Sang-don
4
There is an iconic, but little-used Korean word, “jarikki,” which means
a glass of water by the bedside. Although the word has rarely been
used since Korea’s late 20th century modernization, jarikki was one of
the standard features of traditional Korean homes. Broadly defined,
jarikki can refer to Korean people’s traditional habit of putting a glass of
water by their bedsides at night. The nature of jarikki suited the unique
structure of a traditional Korean home, or hanok, because it consisted of
several separate buildings for restroom, kitchen and sleeping rooms that
were huddled together around a roughly square courtyard with a wall
encircling the entire house. At day’s end, people go to bed after putting
a glass of water by their beds, making it easier to drink at night.
These days, a low-salt diet campaign is gaining popularity because it
is perceived as being less harmful to our health. Before Korea emerged
from poverty, however, there was a tendency to eat salty foods in an
effort to save food consumption. Eating salty foods made people thirsty,
so there was the need for jarikki.
Every night before adults go to bed, young girls tended to lay out the
bedding and fill a glass of water and put it by their bed. It was a part of
etiquette education to make young people become respectful to elders
in their home. A kettle or a bowl was used for jarikki and it was covered
to prevent dust from going into it. For homes of “yangban” or nobles
during the Joseon Dynasty and royal palaces, silver bowls were used
for jarikki because of silver’s wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity. In
the morning, jarikki was the first thing people see and they came to
enjoy drinking water first thing in the morning. Drinking water in the
morning immediately upon waking up can have amazing therapeutic
effects for a multitude of health conditions. It was also meant to start
a day with a sense of calmness and cleanness. The remaining water of
jarikki was used to make tea.
I have always made morning tea with jarikki for my husband, saying, “You
are drinking the water of calmness.” For this reason, jarikki symbolizes
wisdom and beauty of life in Korea.
Lee Hyo-jae, better known as Hyojae, is
one of renowned designers for Korean
traditional costume “hanbok” and a life
stylist, blending culture into everyday life
and placing things where it looks most
beautiful with her unique ideas and skills.
Her hanbok shop is located in front of
Gilsangsa Temple in Seongbuk-dong.
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Landscape
Six keywords to enjoy
Han River
The Han River flows through Gangwon Province, North Chungcheong
Province, Gyeonggi Province, Seoul City and then flows into the Yellow
Sea. In terms of the volume of water flow, the Han River is the largest
river in South Korea. Blessed with a number of cultural heritage sites
and leisure facilities, the river is transforming itself as the heart of
the Korean Peninsula again. Here are special tips to enrich your travel
experience through the Han River.
Editor Kim Il-a, Hong Yoo-jin Photographer Hong Sang-don, Lee Hye-yeon
6
More information
One-day walking path
Dumulmeori (Dumulgyeong) →
Seoul General Studio → Sujongsa
Temple → Eoksaegyeong → Ipo
Weir (Pasagyeong) → Observatory
at Mt. Jungmi
Walking
Beautiful walking paths along river
Much of the Han River’s banks have been transformed into walking paths, equipped
with a number of leisure facilities, cultural sites and eco-friendly activities. One of
the popular walking paths starts from Dumulmeori, where the Namhan and Bukhan
Rivers merge. Dumulmeori is known for a grand 400-year-old zelkova tree and a
cover of mist and fog rising over the river about one hour before sunrise. The site
and its nearby Seoul General Studio, which is capable of all normal film production
operations, have featured in many advertising materials and TV soap operas because
of its beautiful scenery. When you head to Sujongsa Temple located high on Mt. Ungil
after visiting the studio, you can get a bird’s-eye view of Dumulmeori and other
scenic spots in the area. The walking path reaches its climax at Pasagyeong of Ipo
Weir. Run by K-water, Ipo Weir is considered one of the nation’s most beautiful weirs
as its shape resembles a white heron. The weir is featured with big cherry trees in
spring, retusa fringe and Metasequoia trees in summer and zelkoba trees in autumn.
An observatory at Mt. Jungmi is the final destination for the walking path, allowing
you to look out onto the night sky on the river.
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B iking
Bicycle path along river, railway
Not so long ago, most people went to Chuncheon from Seoul
by train and the railway is one of Korea’s most romantic
train treks. In October 2011, the old train trek was replaced
by a bicycle path with more than 300,000 people getting to
Chuncheon by riding bicycles. On a leisurely ride around the
path amidst splendid mountain scenery and the Han River,
you can enjoy scenes of Ipo Weir, Yeoju Weir and Gangcheon
Weir as well as historical and cultural sites. As similar bicycle
paths were built along the Geum River, the Yeongsan River
and the Nakdong River, more people are riding along the four
major rivers.
Starting from Yangsu Station, head to the former Paldang
Dam. The path of “Dumulmeori Gil” is worth hiking or
walking. On the way to the path, you can meet Dumulmeori,
where the Namhan and Bukhan Rivers merge, and Paldang
Lake. It takes about four hours for you to walk along the 13kilometer path or one hour to ride a bicycle.
8
Namhan River Bicycle Path Paldang Station → Dogok Tunnel
→ Yangpyeong County Art Museum → Ipo Weir → Yeoju Weir →
Gangcheon Weir → Namhan River Great Bridge → Binaeneup Habitat
for Migratory Birds → Jojeongji Dam → Tangeumdae
Distance 130km Time 8 hours 27 minutes
Dumulmeori Gil Yangsu Station → Former Yangsu Steel Bridge →
Neungnae Station → Dasan Historical Site → Paldang Dam → Former
Paldang Station
Distance 13km Time about 1 hour
More information
Yangpyeong County Office
(031-773-5101, www.yp21.net),
Tourism Development Team,
Culture and Tourism Division of
Namyangju City
(031-592-4900, www.nyj.go.kr)
C amping
Urban outdoor life
These days, camping is one of the popular outdoor activities
in Korea. It allows people to spend time outdoors, a perfect
way to rejuvenate the body, mind and soul. Some campsites
along the Han River will give you a chance to experience
unforgettable outdoor moments.
Nanji Camping Site The 8,000-pyong campsite is located at
Han River Citizen’s Park near World Cup Stadium in Sangamdong. Overlooking the Han River, it serves as a beautiful
campsite in the city with massive lawns, surrounded by other
eco-friendly parks including Noeul Park, Haneul Park, a dock
for leisure boats and a grass baseball field.
Noeul Camping Site Opened in 2010, Noeul Camping Site
is one of the best places to enjoy a sunset in Seoul. Once a
public golf course, it feature gentle lawns, a scenic view of
the Han River and a look at one of the city’s most spectacular
skylines.
Ipo Weir Camping site Located at Ipo Weir of the Namhan
River, the campsite is known for its breathtaking scenery
and fresh air. It is a very pleasant place indeed, surrounded
by a variety of sites to go, including Silleuksa Temple, which
has Multi-storied Stone Pagoda and Daejanggak Memorial
Tower, and other historical places.
9
Day & Night
Peaceful day and
romantic night
More information
Han River Business Division of
Seoul Metropolitan City
(02-120, hangang.seoul.go.kr)
Seoul is a city of contrasts. During the daytime, the Han River
quietly flows along a forest of high-rise buildings. When you
take a look at the river from a river bank or on one of bridges
crossing the river, you can take time out of your busy lives to
enjoy a few moments of rest. The best way to enjoy the Han
River is to visit Han River Citizens’ Park
So far, a total of 12 separate parks have been built along
the Han River with their features varying at each park.
A pedestrian-only bridge links the southern side of the
Yanghwa Bridge and Seonyudo Park, the nation’s first ecofriendly park. It allows visitors to enjoy a variety of ecofriendly activities, Equipped with bicycle paths, outdoor
activity facilities and fishing spots, Han River Citizens’ Park
has served as a perfect leisure place for Seoul citizens. In the
springtime at Yeouido, often referred to as the “Manhattan
of Seoul,” its Yunjung-ro is filled with countless cherry
blossoms. It is Seoul’s most popular cherry blossom event,
accompanied by music and other cultural events.
10
Photographer Lee Hyeon Gu
Day
Night
When night falls, the Han River becomes brighter. There
are a total of 31 bridges crossing the river, with each
bridge blending seamlessly with various colors of neon
lights. The bridges make Seoul a more romantic city. Here
are three best places to enjoy night views of the Han River.
N Tower N Seoul Tower is one of the city’s most recognizable
landmarks, allowing you to enjoy a jaw-dropping night view
of Seoul. On top of Mt. Nam, an observation deck at N Tower
is also a nice place for a date.
Han River Cruises A river cruise is a unique way to see
the Han River and the evening cruises tend to be popular
because they provide spectacular night views. A cruise
course offers various performances and a buffet restaurant.
Riverside Cafeterias Each riverside cafeteria is unique and
featured with beautiful night views. Among cafeterias offering
the most romantic night view are Cloud Caf on the Dongjak
Bridge, Noeul Caf , Hannam Saemal Caf on the southern
side of the Hannam Bridge and Gyeonwu Caf on the
Hangang Bridge.
11
K orean Wave
Nami Island, home to Korean Wave
Photos provided by Nami Island
Located some 30 minutes southwest of Chuncheon, Nami
Island is drawing tourists from around the world. The
island has become one of famous tourist destinations for
foreigners after the Korean TV soap opera “Winter Sonata”
gained popularity across Asia, particularly in Japan. The
island recently became a location for a Thai movie “Hello
Stranger” and a Malaysian TV mini-series “Calling of Nami
Island,” cementing the island’s status as a center of “hallyu”
or the Korean Wave. On Nami Island, you can find a lot of
foreign tourists from Thailand, Malaysia, China, Singapore
and Indonesia. Blessed with the beautiful scenery of the
Bukhan River, a walking path at Nami Island enables you to
rejuvenate your body, mind and soul. At Nami Pottery Center,
you can watch how artists make pottery or make a piece of
pottery by yourself. Nami Island is place of arts, nature and
people. A rapid transit line from Seoul and Chuncheon, called
ITX, was recently launched, helping you facilitate travel to
Nami Island by cutting down time. It takes 59 minutes from
Yongsan Station in Seoul to Gapyeong Station close to Nami
Island.
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More information
Ticket for adults : 10,000 won,
middle- and high-school
students : 8,000 won,
elementary school students and
below ages : 4,000 won
(031-580-8114.
www.namisum.com)
H istory
Danyang Dodam Sambong On the calm
surface of the water, the movement of the sky
and clouds flows. The three island peaks and a
pavilion on top of the biggest peak, the Dodam
Sambong, represent the most eye-catching
landmark among the Eight Beautiful Scenes of
Danyang, located down the Han River. Jeong
Do-jeon, a powerful aristocrat who played a
key role in founding the Joseon Dynasty, spent
his childhood here and Yi Hwang, one of most
prominent Confucian scholars of the dynasty,
wrote a collection of poetry inspired by this
scenery.
Han River flows with history of Korean Peninsula
A river is culture. Boasting some 5,000 years of history, the Han River
has played a crucial role in the development of culture on the Korean
Peninsula since the Neolithic Age. In particular, the river has served as
the center of politics, economy and culture since King Taejo, founder of
the Joseon Dynasty, moved the capital to Hanyang in what is now Seoul,
leaving it to stand at the center of modern Korean history. Here are two
cultural heritage sites along the Han River you must visit.
Meandering Dong River A scenic riverside
village is located at Ongjeong-ri, Yeongwol
County, Gangwon Province. Here, the Dong
River flows from the east of Yeongwol and
merges with the Seo River, which flows from
the west of Yeongwol, shortly before it runs
into the Namhan River. The two rivers are
surrounded by visually pleasing landmarks
in Yeongwol, including Cheongryeongpo,
Seondol, a headland in the shape of the
Korean Peninsula and Eorayeon. The strong
current gradually formed the headland in
the shape of the Korean Peninsula over a
long period. The Dong River is known for its
whitewater rapids and limestone cliffs, filled
with rare animals such as otters, Mandarin
ducks and while herons as well as shiri or
coreoleuciscus splendidus.
13
Water Landmark
The ARC, which stands for
the Architecture of River
Culture as well as the
Artistry of River Culture,
is an artistically designed
building/structure/landmark
that embraces an elegant
and geometric approach
that symbolizes the culture of
rivers in Korea.
14
Four Rivers Culture Pavilion
The ARC
Four major rivers represent Korea and The ARC is the only
artistically designed building/structure/landmark which
reinterprets the culture of the rivers in an architectural manner.
Editor Jeon Soo-hee Photographer Hong Sang-don
Future of Korean rivers
Ancient civilizations flourished along valleys of rivers including the Nile, the Tigris and
Euphrates, the Indus and the Huang Ho. In the modern industrial world, a river often
symbolized a resounding success of economic development by a country. For example,
the phrase “Miracle on the Rhine” is used to describe the economic achievements of
West Germany after World War II. History shows that rivers have played a vital role as
lifelines and the main arteries of growth for human beings. However, such economic
achievements came at the cost of environmental damages. This is the case for Korea,
which built an economic miracle on the ruins of the 1950-53 Korean War with the phrase
“Miracle on the Han River” which describes the country’s economic rebirth. In the process
of rapid urbanization and industrialization, Korea had been suffering from environmental
problems, including water pollution, torrential rains and water shortages. In order to
fundamentally address the issues of water shortages, floods, water quality improvement
and river restoration, Korea launched the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project. The
project is also aimed at improving people’s quality of life and a variety of new sites that
balance the environment with culture, tourism, and leisure. With the completion of
the four major rivers, a variety of new possibilities and experiences have been created
allowing citizens and nature to live in harmony. All of these can be seen at The ARC.
15
Porcelain that captures image of the
Nakdong River
Overlooking the Nakdong River, The ARC was built on one
side of the river and it gains attention due to its eye-catching
appearance. When looking at the magnificent architecture
from the riverside, its shape looks like a fish jumping out of
the water. When you take a closer look near the architecture,
it represents the elegant style of traditional Korean porcelain.
It reminds people of a well-made porcelain which is full
of stories of rivers in Korea. When entering the The ARC,
you will encounter a lobby on the first floor and the New
Wave Ad Zone that allows you to enjoy various exhibitions
pertaining to the four major rivers. With chairs, lights and
other interior design in the zone resembling water drops and
ripples on the water surface, you feel as if you have jumped/
are swimming into the water. Other facilities on the first floor
include the Hope Sharing Zone where various activities are
held and conference rooms are located. A large Circle-Vision
theater is installed at the first and second floors, projecting
a high-definition documentary film titled “Circle of Vitality”
onto huge screens arranged in a circle. With surrealistic and
tranquil images, the film lets you understand how the life
force circulates through nature. On the third floor of The
ARC, there is a cafeteria and spacious observation deck that
enables you to enjoy scenic views of the Gangjeong Goryeong
Weir, the Nakdong River and the Geumho River.
An inside view of the
ARC. Huge blue screens
are arranged in a circle
along stair walls, leading
visitors from the first floor
to the third floor.
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Idealistic architecture
Designed by one of the world’s renowned architects, Hani
Rashid, the ARC is gaining acclamation as a perfect structure
with architectural experts taking part in the design, preconstruction and construction procedures. Rashid is a cofounder of a New York-based firm Asymptote Architecture,
which has designed famous buildings around the world,
including the Yas Hotel in the United Arab Emirates and
Hydra Pier in Haarlemmermeer of the Netherlands. Rashid,
who also serves as a professor at the University of Applied
Arts in Vienna, is considered an innovative architect.
Commenting on the design concept of The ARC, Rashid said,
“By reflecting the importance of water, the quintessential
factor for our survival, into the design, I placed a focus on the
power of water, beauty of water and spirit of water.” Rashid
described The ARC as a place for people to have an integrated
experience between nature and technology, saying visitors “will
feel as if they came to a place that is different from everyday
life and the excessive use of technology.” The ARC is a unique
architectural structure that features infinite energy of water
and limitless possibilities of humans.
Information
Opening hours│From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Telephone│82-53-383-8438
Address│806, Jukgok-ri, Dasa-eup,
Dalseong-county, Daegu-city
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Culture
World falls in love with Korean dog paintings
Korean-style Pop Artist
Kwak Su-yeon
Kwak Su-yeon is an artist who paints dogs. Dogs have been one of best
friends of human beings for a long time. People sometimes give dogs a
contemptuous look, but dogs enjoy a unique relationship with humans. Kwak
paid attention the unique relationship and “personified dogs” and that’s why
she started to paint dogs. Using the traditional Korean folk art that features
paintings of mythical figures, or minhwa, Kwak creates her own metaphor
for dogs, drawing international acclaim with her Korean-style pop art.
Editor Hong Yoo-jin Photographer Cho Hye-won
1
2
3
1 Dr. Park Gallery Group Exhibition “Neighboring Form” in 2011.
2, 3 Kwak uses various tools for her paintings, including brushes, pencils, ink sticks and colored sands.
The paintings of Kwak Su-yeon make people feel good as they feature various dogs with items of human beings
in comfortable-looking, but fluorescent colors. Dogs in the paintings look so lovely, while reflecting people’s
own looks and images. Nicknamed “Dog Artist” or “Bow Wow Artist,” Kwak is an artist of oriental painting. The
motivation behind Kwak’s choice of dogs as her subject of paintings was coincidental and she has painted dogs
over the past decade. She is also a mother of two sons, performing the traditional duties of housekeeping and child
rearing while passionately engaging in painting. After her two sons fall asleep at night, Kwak begins to paint a
picture in her room. Her strokes of the brush often continue until dawn.
18
What do dog means to Kwak?
Many people have asked to her: Why do you paint dogs?
They have wondered, although dogs are one of best friends
of humans and so familiar to people, whether the animal is
qualified to become a subject of art.
“These days, many people tend to express a sense of
understanding with my paintings and some people tell me
they like my paintings because they are unique. But, when I
started painting dogs 10 years ago, I underwent great mental
anguish through worrying about the subject. For instance,
when I held an exhibition in Insa-dong, an elderly man looked
at my paintings and then spoke in a loud voice, ‘Who painted
these?’ ‘Aren’t they a waste of venue rental fee?’ ‘Painting
dogs is useless.’ However, I refused to yield whenever I heard
of such remarks,” Kwak said.
The reason behind Kwak’s choice of dogs as her subjects is the
variety of faces dogs have, she said. As she has painted more
dogs, she has increasingly fallen in love with dogs because
what she represented through her paintings are stories of our
families, our neighbors and us.
“Some people express worries that my ideas for creation
would be limited if I stick to painting the one subject of dogs,
but I am fine. Albeit, I paint dogs, they remind me of various
human looks such as a swaggering man, a shy girl with timid
eyes and an overly-conceited guy.”
Kwak appears to assimilate with dogs. With her big eyes and
friendly tone of voice, Kwak is an artist that anybody wants
to buddy up to. Some time ago, one of her fans quipped, “Ms.
Kwak, you look like a dog.”
“I think that dogs have played an integral part in human lives.
Dogs can’t live far from humans. Whether humans need dogs
or not, dogs always stand by humans and long for love. After
all, dogs have become a part of the society humans create.”
1
Dreaming of art that makes everyone
happy
One of the main characteristics of Kwak’s paintings, which
combine minhwa, the traditional Korean folk style, and
Western pop art, is “fun.” Dogs in her paintings, such as a
drowsy-looking dog smoking a cigarette and a dog wearing a
sunglass while sitting in the seat, make viewers smile because
they are so familiar to humans. It also breaks the perception
of visual arts that are difficult to understand.
“At one point, I came to realize that, ‘Life is tough, so why do
I have to deal with so much anguish in painting?’ So, painting
is in part for my own good. I had engaged in paintings with
a gloomy tone in my early days. But I understood that, when
I paint with a funny and satirical tone, it makes viewers and
me happy.”
Another characteristic of her paintings is that she uses the
method of oriental painting. Using the Korean traditional
home-made paper of hanji, ink sticks and colored sands,
her works are a mixture of traditional and modern arts. By
attaching drawings on paper to plywood with glue, she pours
colored sands to make a fixed sand painting. The process is
difficult because she has to do it without a mistake. Kwak’s
fondness of oriental painting prompts her to learn calligraphy
and read oriental classical literature.
2
3
6
1 Dowongyeong(Shangri-la), 91X116.7cm Painting on paper 2010. 2
Dream, 42X48cm Painting on paper 2010. 3 Report on Protection of
Rare Species, 130X162cm Painting on paper 2011. 4 Mureung Down
(Paradise), 116.5X91cm Painting on paper 2009. 5 Books, 130.3X163cm
Painting on paper 2010. 6 Drive gently over the stone, 116.7×91cm
Painting on paper 2009.
4
5
Life and art
The paintings of Kwak recently gained attention again as they
were used for commercial advertising for herbal cosmetics
and wrapping paper for oriental medicine. She recalls that the
application of her paintings to commercial advertising was
very interesting as images of her paintings increase people’s
purchasing power.
“I met with a new experience that people buy goods after
seeing my paintings. In some sense, I think it is a way of
artistic consumption because they buy both goods and arts.”
Some people simply regard her paintings on the wrapping
papers as interesting and others might give full scope to their
imagination with her paintings. When art allows people to
enjoy such happiness and relaxation by infiltrating every
corner of our lives, it is a very valuable work.
“I have been frequently asked how I try to map out a
painting. Unlike expectations by many people, my work is not
grandiose. Usually, I come up with ideas from a small episode
in my life and my own pursuit of interest. After all, arts seem
to be so close to our lives.”
While Kwak is one of attention-grabbing artists with her
antique and witty paintings, she is an ordinary mother of two
sons who performs the traditional duties of housekeeping and
child rearing.
“I tell my friends these days, ‘I paint to live.’ After making
my sons fall asleep, I paint until 3:00 a.m. or 4:00 a.m. by
shortening my sleep. Unless I do so, I might be unable to
endure the mental stress of housework, although my head
swims from lack of sleep and fatigue.”
In March, Kwak is scheduled to hold a joint exhibition at
Space Womb of Contemporary Art Gallery in New York with
renowned artists from the United States, South Korea and
Japan, drawing attention how global views would respond to
her elegant paintings that combine a Korean folk style with a
modern satirical tone.
“It is so natural that Korean people engage in Korean painting,
but some people still regard those who engage in Korean
painting as being out of ordinary. I am happy to see that more
artists are engaging in oriental painting. If they create better
paintings, it will help more people like oriental paintings. I
hope that the charm of Korean paintings will be widely known.”
21
Festival
Maehwa Festivals
With its clear and refreshing scent, maehwa
flowers herald the start of spring in Korea.
Let’s follow the scent of maehwa.
Editor Jeon Soo-hee Photographers Hong Sang-don, Kim Hyeong-ho
Reference·Photo provided by <All About Our Maehwa>(Written by Ahn Wan-sik, Nulwa)
Flower with integrity of “seonbi,”
virtuous scholar
Maehwa is the flower of prunus mume trees, generally referred
to as the apricot in English. The flower is one of the early signs
of spring in Korea and has been the nation’s most-loved blossom
with its clear and refreshing scent. Korea’s home-grown maehwa
has various names, depending on its colors. “Cheongmae” is used
to describe white maehwa with a bluish tint, while “Baekmae”
is a pure white maehwa. “Hongmae” refers to reddish maehwa,
while “Hwangmae” or “Heukmae” describes a blossom with bright
red or dark red colors. Traditionally, Korean people fall in love
with maehwa not only because of its shape and scent, but also
its symbolic meanings that represent a righteous man upholding
honor and integrity. In particular, maehwa is also called
“Seoljungmae” because the flower often comes into bloom in the
middle of the wintry weather ahead of spring. That represents an
honor and integrity of “seonbi,” or virtuous scholars during Joseon
Dynasty who had reputations for integrity and incorruptibility.
As a long and tough winter season comes to an end, seonbi during
the Joseon Dynasty started to search for maehwa by riding on
a donkey and carrying a bundle on their backs. The reason why
they embarked a long journey for maehwa was to be relieved of
anxiety and remain faithful to their principle and integrity by
watching maehwa flowers which boasted a graceful and beautiful
figure. Such journeys for maehwa were an annual event for seonbi
and artists who wanted to renew their New Year’s resolutions.
Centuries have passed, but Korean people still set out on a trip to
watch maehwa in early spring days. And annual festivals are held
at sites where maehwa flowers are blossoming to welcome spring
and bid farewell to winter.
22
23
Maehwa festival at the riverside
A festival of flowers is held at one side overlooking the Seomjin
River from late February to early May every year. That’s why
people go to the Seomjin River when spring comes. Among a
variety of flowers, including camellias, carnelian cherries, cherry
blossoms and azaleas, maehwa flowers draw the most attention.
So, the nation’s biggest festival of maehwa flowers is held at the
Seomjin River. When white-colored maehwa flowers are in full
blossom, the river sparkles with dazzling brilliance.
Information
Gwangyang International Maehwa Culture Festival
Along with a festival of maehwa flowers, various events
are held to delight visitors. Not only are the roads lined with
maehwa trees in full bloom, there is also a singing contest
as well as performances by the Gwangyang city’s choir
members and traditional Korean music artists. On March
23, a photo contest is held. Visitors can also take part in
activities such drawing maehwa tress and making pressed
flowers, tea or soap out of maehwa and makgeolli with
maehwa.
From March 23 to 31
Seomjin Village, Daap-myeon, Gwangyang-city, South Jeolla province
For more information, call 061-797-3714~5
24
Maehwa flowers on Jeju Island
The southern island of Jeju is the nation’s first place where
maehwa flowers come into bloom because of its warmer weather.
When you go to Jeju island, you can enjoy the first festival of
flowers, including maehwa. Beginning in early February, fresh
buds of maehwa emerge, heralding the start of spring. Hyuae-ri
of Jeju hosts the biggest maehwa festival in Jeju, providing a
magnificent view of maehwa flowers against the backdrop of Mt.
Halla.
Information
Hyuae-ri Maehwa Festival
The Hyuae-ri festival marks the seventh of its kind this
year and you can enjoy a magnificent view of maehwa
flowers against the backdrop of Mt. Halla. Other than
maehwa, Hyuae-ri lends itself to other events, including
a performance with black pigs. Visitors also can watch
rabbits, squirrels cows and horses in Hyuae-ri and
feed them. The festival is also famous for restaurants to
eat local foods, including meat noodles, plum makgeolli
(Korean traditional rice wine) and plum teas.
From February 20 to March 10
2081, Shinre-ri, Namwon-eup, Seogwipo-city, Jeju
For more information, call 064-732-2114
25
k- water
special
Clean energy to protect the Earth
Renewable energy
The prospects for renewable energy have never looked
brighter as emerging sources of sustainable energy are
being developed and looks to become one of economic
growth engines for the future. Led by K-water, Korea is
also actively pushing forward the development of renewable
energy by carrying out a variety of green projects. Here are
various types of renewable energy research and development
initiatives being conducted at home and around the world.
Editor Lee Joo-young Photos provided by K-water, Hong Sang-don, Iberdrola
26
Wind, solar, wave …
Nature transforms itself into energy
The development of
renewable energy had been
dominated by advanced nations in
the past to cope with the global oil supply
crisis and the prospect of diminishing oil
supplies. Still, fossil fuels such as coal, oil,
petroleum and natural gas products account for
92.2 percent of the world’s energy consumption.
Coupled with the rapid diminishing of fossil fuels
and the acceleration of climate change, the
world is increasingly paying attention to
the development of alternative energy
sources and the market for
renewable energy is growing
at a rapid pace.
27
1
2
Korea, the world’s best place
for tidal power
Tidal power generates electricity by using the difference in height
between high and low tides. Since a tidal power plant uses high
tidal ranges and flow velocities, it can generate electricity without
producing waste by-products and does not consume any other
fuels. Tides are more predictable than wind energy and solar
power, but the use of tidal power has been limited because it needs
sufficiently high tidal ranges. In that sense, there are only a few
countries in the world that have sites suitable for tidal power plants.
With its higher tidal ranges, the Gyeonggi Bay in Korea is one of the
world’s optimal sites for tidal power generation.
Since August 2011, Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station, the world’
s largest tidal power plant, has been operational in Korea and
produces 552 million kWh of electricity on an annual basis. Its
annual production of electricity is equivalent to 860,000 barrels of
imported oil, helping the nation save about 100 billion won in oil
imports. Moreover, the tidal power plant significantly cuts emissions
of greenhouse gases and improves the water quality of Sihwa Lake
throughout the inflow and outflow process of seawater. Along with
the restoration of Sihwa Lakeʼs ecosystem, the lake is becoming a
tourist destination, contributing to the growth of the local economy.
1 The Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station.
2 An inside view of the Sihwa Lake Tidal
Power Station, the world’s largest tidal
power plant.
3 Being surrounded by sea on three sides,
Korea has optimal conditions to develop
marine energy sources. (Here you can see a)
Turbine at Gyeongin Ara Waterway.
Widely-used wind power
Wind power is the most widely-used form of renewable energy
around the world because it costs less than other alternative
sources of energy. It converts the wind energy into electricity by
using wind turbines and its effects on the environment are generally
less problematic than those from other power sources. In 2010,
K-water built two units of 1,500 kW wind turbines near Sihwa Lake.
A year later, it built another two wind turbines on Arabit Island in
Incheon, on the southern tip of the Gyeongin Ara Waterway that
connects the Han River with the Yellow Sea. K-water plans to set
up wind turbines at more sites, including Gampo Dam, throughout a
feasibility study of wind power.
28
3
Small hydro,
‘Blue Ocean’ of energy industry
Small hydro refers to development of hydroelectric power on a
scale serving a stream or reservoir by using its dependable flow of
water and a reasonable height for water to fall. Small hydro plants
have been touted as one of the most sustainable, low-cost sources
of renewable energy because they produce the largest amount of
energy in terms of unit capacity without emitting any greenhouse
gases. Small hydro can be developed using a reservoir for farming,
a weir or an irrigation channel for multipurpose dams.
K-water is carrying out the development of small hydro plants using
the 16 weirs and other waterways, which were built as part of the
Four Major Rivers Restoration Project. While the unit capacity of
small hydro plants per weir accounts for only 20 percent of Sihwa
Lake Tidal Power Station, it produces energy equivalent to the
average annual electricity consumption of 250,000 people. K-water
is operating small hydro plants at 26 sites across the country with
a total capacity of 18.4 MW, while small hydro plants are being
built that will produce an additional 7 MW at five sites. In the future,
K-water plans to build small hydro plants of 6.5 MW at Seomjin
River Dam and Jojeongji Dam.
Solar power on the water
Using solar cells or photovoltaics panels, solar power is a form of
directly producing electricity by converting sunlight into energy. In
spite of the overwhelming availability of sunlight, the development
of solar power plants has been hampered by the high costs of
solar cells, less predictable capacity of electricity production and
limited sites available for solar power systems. As part of efforts to
overcome these problems, scientists started to install solar power
systems on the water or the surface of a reservoir, rather than
traditional methods like rooftops and fields. If Korea was to install
solar power systems on a mere five percent of its reservoirs, it
would be able to produce 4,170 MW of electricity, equivalent to
the average annual electricity consumption of 5.6 million people,
and would save land space (fields) equivalent to eight times that of
Yeouido in Seoul.
1
1 Korea’s potential capacity for small hydro
power plants is estimated at 1,500 MW
and can produce electricity of 700,000
MWh a year. (Here you can see a) Small
hydro power facility at Seongnam Water
Purification Center.
2, 3 K-water has become the leader in
floating solar power plants by successfully
commercializing them, such as the plant
you can see here on the surface of the
water at Hapcheon Dam.
2
3
29
1
2
30
K-water succeeds in commercializing
the world’s first floating solar power
plant
While solar power plants that float on the water are drawing attention
from around world, the technical development of them is still at an
early stage. The United States and Italy had attempted to install solar
power systems on the water. Australia and Japan had installed rows
of standard photovoltaic panels on the surface of reservoirs, but
none of them have succeeded in commercializing a floating solar
power plant.
As a major technological breakthrough, K-water has developed
a homegrown solar-cell module that fits on a floating solar power
plant in August last year for the first time in the world. Using the
solar-cell module, K-water and LS Industrial System jointly installed
a solar power system of 500 kW on the surface of the reservoir
surface at Hapcheon Dam. Its electricity capacity is equivalent to
the average annual electricity consumption of 170 four-person
households. In addition to gaining a reputation as the world’s first
commercial operator of a floating solar power system, K-water cut
its construction costs by 30 percent with the help of technological
advances. Besides Hapcheon Dam, K-water is operating seven
other floating solar power systems. By 2022, K-water plans to
gradually install solar power systems capable of producing 1,216
MW on the reservoir surfaces of 12 dams.
Need for securing various energy
sources for the future
Water is a conductor of heat and a new way of cooling and heating
using the difference in water temperatures at lakes or dams is
drawing interest. It produces energy for cooling and heating as
water temperatures are low in summer and high in winter. Compared
with the method of cooling and heating using air, it can save energy
by 20 percent to 40 percent. K-water is operating a cooling and
heating system using the difference in water temperatures at Juam
Dam, Daecheong Dam and Seongnam Water Purification Center.
To actively address the issue of reducing emissions of greenhouse
gases, K-water is carrying out various the Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM) projects. The CDM is a flexible mechanisms
defined in the Kyoto Protocol that provides for emissions reduction
projects which generate Certified Emission Reduction units which
may be traded in emissions trading schemes. Last year, K-water
produced electricity of 282,289 MWh and cut emissions of carbon
dioxide by 189,347 tons. K-water is expected to play a bigger role
in reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases with its eco-friendly
business philosophy.
Marine energy provides
a vast store of kinetic energy
The ocean, which covers 71 percent of the Earth's surface and
contains 97 percent of the planet's water, also offers various
methods for producing energy such as ocean waves, tides, salinity
and ocean temperature differences. Power generation using the
four forms of energy can have less effect on the marine environment
because they do not require a dam nor do they disrupt the
movement of ships or sea life. Although it is economically feasible,
there are limited sites where such types of power generation are
possible because tidal current power generation requires a sufficient
speed to ensure high flow velocities into the turbine for efficient
power production. K-water built a tidal current power station of 1,000
kW at the Uldolmok Strait in 2009, marking it the world’s second
tidal current power plant after Britain.
3
1 The greatest advantage of a floating solar panel installation on a body
of water is to use less noticed locations such as a reservoir or a pond,
offering an alternative solution to land-based solar panel installations.
Floating solar panel installation on the water of Hapcheon Dam is built with
eco-friendly materials and a home-grown technology that can generate
electricity despite bad weather conditions. Such technology is known to be
about two years ahead of other nations.
2 K-water is carrying out the development of small hydro plants using 16
weirs and other waterways, which were built throughout the Four Major
Rivers Restoration Project. This photo shows a small hydro plant of 4.9 MW
at gangcheon Weir.
3 The global market for wind power is growing at an annual growth rate of
20-30 percent. (Here you can see a) Wind power facilities in Denmark.
4 Wave-power generation produces electricity by using the oscillatory
motion of ocean surface waves. Wave power is also useful for water
desalination and the pumping of water into reservoirs. In 2008, the first
experimental wave-power station was opened in Portugal.
4
31
k- water
project
Nature, therein lies the answer
Sihwa Lake
Tidal Power Station
Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station is not only South Korea’s
first tidal power plant but the world’s largest producer of
renewable marine energy. Let’s take a look at the past and
present, day and night at Sihwa Lake, which follows the
※ Photos carried by this article were chosen
from award-winning images from the “2012
Sihwa Lake & Tidal Power Station Photo
Contest,” hosted by K-water’s management
division for Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station.
laws of nature in a humble way.
Editor Kim Il-a Photos provided by K-water
Heaven Full of Reed Flowers, by Lee Sa-rang
32
Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station, by Oh Gi-sook
Lake of miracle, Sihwa Lake
Located near Daebu Island in Ansan city of Gyeonggi
Province, Sihwa Lake is an artificial lake that was
built by the government as part of a project to build
a 3.3-million-square-meter industrial complex to
ease congestion in Seoul and its neighboring areas. By
building a 12.7-kilometer-long seawall, a reservoir
was created to provide water for agriculture. With
a reservoir capacity of 320 million tons of water, it
became Sihwa Lake, which is connected from Shiheung
city to the headland of Hwaseong city. In 2000,
seawater was reintroduced in the hope of flushing out
contamination at Sihwa Lake under the leadership of
K-water. In one day, 30 million tons of seawater were
reintroduced. In order to effectively use the inflow
and outflow of seawater, K-water began to push for
the construction of Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station in
2002.
Innocence of Childhood, by Park Dong-yeol
Artistic sculpture “Obelisk of Light” is seen near a
scallop-shaped island. Another smaller scallopshaped island was removed when the tidal power
plant was built and its earth was used to build
“T-Light.”
33
Aerial view of Sihwa Lake Tidal Power
Station, by Shin Byeong-moon
Time has come for preservation
1
2
1 Luminescence, by Song Hee-seon
2 A day at Sihwa Lake, by Jeong Chelina
34
The sun rises and sets just like the moon does and when winter passes, spring
comes. Warm air rises up into the atmosphere and becomes clouds and then they
fall to the earthʼs surface in the form of rain. When rain falls to the earth, it
either seeps into the ground or flows into rivers and lakes, on its journey towards
the seas. Again, it rises up into the air in the form of vapor. The atmospheric
circulation displays the laws of nature and human beings have sought to survive
in line with the laws of nature. The term “green technology” refers to a set of ecofriendly means to produce clean and renewable energy using the sun, the moon,
wind and water. At the core spirit of the green technology is the respect for the
laws of nature. Sihwa Lake produces clean energy everyday with the help of the
moon and water. Tidal power is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of
tides into electricity and the efficiency of a tidal power plant depends on high tidal
ranges. With its tidal range of up to 9 meters, Sihwa Lake boasts one of the world’
s most efficient environments for a tidal power generation. Last year, Sihwa Lake
Tidal Power Station generated 552 million kWh of electricity, enough to supply
500,000 households in a city and is equivalent to 860,000 barrels of imported
oil. In August 2011, the tidal power installation marked another milestone by
initiating the construction of an eco-friendly marine park. Named “T-Light,” the
marine park consists of wetlands, home to numerous endangered or rare species,
and a cultural exhibition hall to be built by 2014 and other facilities. Sihwa Lake,
the world’s largest producer of renewable marine energy, is taking steps to
become the leading eco-tourism destination in South Korea.
Sunset, Park So-hyeon
T-Light, which
symbolizes Light using
Tide, is a marine park for
leisure, relaxation and
various cultural activities.
T-Light, an eco-friendly seaside cultural space
With the aim of making Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station a cultural
space to better communicate with people, the Ministry of Land,
Transportation and Maritime Affairs and K-water started building
the “T-Light.” Built with a direct view of the Yellow Sea and under
the themes of renewable energy, the marine park is perfect for family
activities and consists of various facilities, including the Moonlight
Plaza where people can enjoy sunsets and an artistic sculpture called
“Obelisk of Light.” The meaning of the name “T-Light” is based on a
combination of the English words “tide,” “two-way” and “tomorrow”
as well as “delight,” symbolizing the future-oriented corporate
philosophy of K-water.
Sunrise at Sihwa Lake, by Kim Dae-ho
35
k- water
People
K-water’s Daegu-Gyeongbuk
Regional Management Office
Ji Hyeong-seon
Jeong Gyeong-mo
Kim Ji-won
Yoo Hwan-yong
Chief of the Water Quality Management
Team
Manager of Water Quality Management
Team
Assistant Manager of the Operation &
Management Team
Assistant Manager of the Customer Support
Team
My habit of being thankful for everything
is what gives me the strength to go on.
Thanks to God, I can live healthy today.
I am thankful to my family for giving me
such strong support. Thanks to K-water
for giving me a job. Along with hypogastric
breathing, I renew my resolution every day
to make each day count.
By walking to work each morning, I can
feel the movement of energy in my body,
enlivening my cells. It takes about 30
minutes for me to walk to work and I have
been doing this for more than four years.
In particular, my early morning walk clears
my mind and gets me ready to tackle the
stresses of daily life. When the season
changes, like it is now, my walks also allows
me to fully enjoy the changing sceneries.
Praise from others makes me dance. I
entered the company last year, so it’s time
for me learn many things. I am still lacking
in many things, but words of praise by my
seniors are what keeps me going. In spite
of my limited ability, sometimes I feel a
sense of accomplishment and pride to be
an employee of K-water.
One of my favorite ways to get my energy
back is watching a basketball game. I take
particular pleasure in watching women’
s basketball games because women’s
basketball is played differently than men’
s basketball. Women’s basketball is very
exciting and their various skills keep me
on the edge of my seat. That’s why I love
to watch a basketball games at home no
matter how tired I am.
36
Spring, when everything comes alive again, is upon us. Let’s see how
employees of K-water’s Daegu-Gyeongbuk Regional Management Office
overcome drowsiness during these spring days.
Editor Jeon Soo-hee Photographer Hong Sang-don
Daegu-Gyeongbuk Regional Management Office is in charge of operations of three multi-purpose dams-Andong
Dam, Imha Dam and Gunwi Dam-as well as construction and operations of other dams in Buhang, Seongdeok,
Yeongju and Mt. Bohyeon. It also operates six weirs along the Nakdong River, including Dalseong Weir and
Gangjeong Goryeong Weir, while managing water supply and sewerage services for residents in the Goryeong
and Yecheon counties. The offeice is also moving ahead with a project to develop a national industrial complex in
Gumi city.
Tasked with managing water resources comprehensively along the Nakdong River, the office is also doing its
utmost efforts to provide about 5 million residents in 23 cities and counties with clean and safe drinking water.
In particular, a total of 13 hydroelectric power generators at the six weirs, which were built last year as part of
the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, began to produce electricity to serve approximately 81,000 people. The
electrical energy produced allows South Korea to save the equivalent of about 149,000 barrels of imported oil a
year and reduce annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 58,300 metric tons. Moreover, the office has been in
full swing to prepare for hosting the 7th World Water Forum in 2015. Let’s take a look at how employees of the
Daegu-Gyeongbuk Regional Management Office refresh themselves from their daily routines.
Lee Woo-hyeong
Yoon Gi-hye
Choi Sang-soo
Lim Jin-hwan
Assistant Manager of the Customer Support
Team
Assistant Manager of the Operation &
Management Team
Deputy General Manager of the Water
Supply Team
Deputy General Manager of the Regional
Team
I have been waiting for spring to arrive so
that I can ride my bicycle. Bicycling is a great
way to see the outdoors, take in the fresh air,
or simply get around town. This year, I plan
to take a bicycling trip to the Geum River
and the Yeongsan River. Bicycling makes
me regain my verve and improve both my
mental and physical health.
As with most employees, the weekend is
a tonic for my life. I entered the company
late last year and assigned to Daegu city,
making me leave my family and hometown
of Busan city for the first time. So, I go to
my hometown every weekend to regain
my verve and put the spring back in my
step by having a chat and eating delicious
food with my friends or my parents.
Like the saying goes, “You will feel refreshed
for a week if you have a bath; you will feel
refreshed for a month if you have a haircut.”
For me, I feel refreshed by working out at the
health club near my office. I usually exercise
for about an hour at the health club, take a
shower, eat breakfast at the office restaurant,
and then go to the office. Mi-jeong is also
a tonic for my life. You always make me
happy.
No matter what, my children are the biggest
tonic for my life. My wife and children live
in Daejeon city, so I have to see them on
weekends. In particular, my five-yearold son is full of charm and I am indulged
in taking care of him. My first son, 9, is also
lovely. I have been suffering from back pain
because I give them piggyback rides, but
they give me the strength to go on.
37
k- water
Volunteer
Sharing neighborly love
with free meals
The staff from K-water’s Water Quality Analysis Center has been volunteering
at a community center in the city of Daejeon for more than eight years by
offering free meals to elderly people who live alone. We take care of low-income,
vulnerable seniors whom are living alone because they make our society a better
place and enrich our bodies and minds.
Editor Jeon Soo-hee Photographer Kim Young-geun
1
3
38
2
4
The Jungri General Community Center is nestled in an
apartment complex in Beop-dong in Daejeon city. Lunch time
is typically the busiest time for the community center because
its soup kitchen offers free meals to low-income senior
citizens. Staffed by employees from K-water’s Water Quality
Analysis Center, the soup kitchen also serves as a place to
make those elderly people happy and enrich their lives by
providing nurturing care for elderly people whom are living
completely independent lives.
Feeding elderly people with caring hearts
The staff from K-water’s Water Quality Analysis Center
arrived at the Jungri General Community Center at 10:20 a.m.
The relationship between the two sides began eight years ago
when the community center moved to its current site, about
a 10-minute drive from the Water Quality Analysis Center.
About 30 employees from the Water Quality Analysis Center
have joined the free-lunch service for low-income elderly
people and nine of them took part today’s service.
For those who can’t come to the community center because
of their physical disabilities or illnesses, K-water employees
packed meals with warm hearts and delivered the meals to
their homes before offering food at the community center. In
order to make the deliveries faster to ensure the hot meals
donʼt go cold, the K-water employees divided themselves up
into four teams.
“Delivering meals to elderly people who can’t move well is
quiet meaningful. It allows us to communicate with them
every day by saying hello and asking ‘Is there anything that's
inconveniencing you?’ It becomes a channel of communication
with the elderly every day,” said Choi Don-hyeok, Team
Manager at the Water Quality Analysis Center. Whenever he
delivered meals to the door of an elderly person, Choi said,
he held his or her hands, hoping for them to live well. One
elderly person told Choi, “Thank you so much, my own child
will not make meals for me every day like this.” Such remarks
and caring by the elderly have helped Choi and Manager Lee
Hee-sook get even more energy to keep going on. Lee said,
“I tried to deliver meals at lunchtime and some elderly people
saved a part of the meal to eat it at evening. After learning of
this situation, I have been trying to put more foods into the
meals.”
Besides delivering meals to the elderly, some K-water
employees were unaware of the passage of time as they
spoke to some of the elderly who have become so familiar
with each other. After completing their delivery, K-water
employees converged in the soup kitchen at the community
center around lunchtime and began to offer meals to the
elderly as if they were skillful chefs. During their two hours
of volunteering, the warm and caring hearts of the K-water
staff towards the elderly seemed to bring spring closer to the
elderly who endured a tough winter.
1 Team Manager Choi Don-hyeok
and Manager Lee Hee-sook have
a pleasant chat with an elderly
person by delivering a packed
meal.
2, 3 Female employees ably pack
lunch and distribute foods to
elderly people.
4 Nine employees of the Water
Quality Analysis Center pose for
the camera before delivering
packed meals to elderly people.
39
NEWS
40
K-water SIGNS MOU TO
BUILD HYDROELECTRIC
POWER PLANT IN PAKISTAN
K-water signed a memorandum of understanding with the
Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority on Dec. 26 to
jointly push for a hydroelectric power project worth 1 trillion won
(US$ 912.4 million) in the Lower Palas Valley region of Pakistan.
As the first joint project between civilian and government sectors
in Pakistan using a financing form of “Build-Own-Transfer,” the
project calls for the two sides to build a hydroelectric power plant
in the northern Pakistani region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and
sell electricity to recover their investment. The planned 665MW
hydroelectric power plant is 1.5 times bigger than the Chungju
Dam in South Korea. With Korean builders and engineering
firms taking part in the project, it is expected to significantly
help the nation create jobs and increase exports. Moreover,
K-water has invested a total of 500 billion won to build a 150MW
hydroelectric power plant in Patrind, Pakistan and operate the
plant over the next 30 years. K-water CEO Kim Kuen-ho said,
“The hydroelectric power projects in Pakistan demonstrate another
green light for K-water’s move to make inroads into global water
markets and serve as a chance to let the world know about Korea’s
water-related technology.”
K-water OPENS
‘SOUTHEAST ASIA BUSINESS
DIVISION’ IN BANGKOK
K-water opened its business division for Southeast Asian nations
in Bangkok, Thailand on Feb. 1, laying groundwork to push for
various projects in the region, including a water management
project in Thailand and others in Laos and Myanmar. Currently,
South Korea, China and Japan are competing to win the Thai water
management project worth 12.4 trillion won. The Thai project
is aimed at building flood-prevention and water management
facilities at 25 rivers and streams in Thailand, which is scheduled
to pick a preferred bidder on Feb. 7. K-water submitted a letter
of proposal on Nov. 23 last year to clinch the project and a final
bidder will be selected on around April 10. About 100 personnel,
including K-water’s senior experts and professionals from
Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. and other local firms, are
working at the “Southeast Asia Business Division” in Bangkok. The
head of the division said, “The Thai water management project will
become a good opportunity for K-water to increase the awareness
of its advanced technology of water management in the world,
while helping the Thai government prevent floods and manage its
water resources.”
K-water’s CDM PROJECT ON
FOUR MAJOR RIVERS
REGISTERED BY UN
※ The CDM is one of the flexibility mechanisms
defined in the Kyoto Protocol that provides for
emissions reduction projects which generate Certified
Emission Reduction units which may be traded in
emissions trading schemes. Currently, South Korea is
not required to comply with the Kyoto Protocol.
NO OUTAGE OF WATER
SUPPLY WITH EMERGENCY
POWER GENERATOR
A project of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) by K-water
at 16 weirs along the nation’s four major rivers was registered
by the CDM Executive Board of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Jan. 11. K-water
is reducing emissions of about 180,000 tons of carbon dioxide
on an annual basis throughout the project and the registration
meant that the K-water project was recognized by the world body.
In October, 2010, K-water started the project to build smallscale hydroelectric power plants at the 16 weirs, coupled with the
Four Major Rivers Restoration Project. K-water applied for the
U.N. registration in September last year and UNFCCC registered
it on Jan. 11 after four months of deliberation. K-water has
produced 270 million KWh of electricity throughout its smallscale hydroelectric power plants at the 16 weirs, helping the nation
save 450,000 barrels of oil imports per year and reduce emissions
of 180,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Since 2006, a total of 12 CDM
projects by K-water have been registered by UNFCCC. The CDM
projects produce a total of 830 million KWh of electricity a year,
helping the country save 1.3 million barrels of oil imports and cut
emissions of 530,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
In order to supply water and power in a stable manner in case of a
large-scale power outage, K-water installed 2,500 kwh moveable
power generators and 2,300 kwh inverters at three water
purification centers on Feb. 9. The move followed a nationwide
power outage in September, 2011, when many people suffered from
outages of water supply. The power generators and inverters were
installed at the three water purification centers in Seongnam,
South Jeolla Province and South Gyeongsang Province. With a
combination of an emergency power generator and an inverter,
a 2,500 KW generator can increase it output by four times. Kim
Han-soo, head of K-water’s Water Supply Management Division,
said, “The high-capacity emergency power generators are
expected to help us minimize unplanned outages of water supply
following a power outage.”
41
Water and Life
Water Solution
Good habits keep you healthy and feeling good. You can
keep your body healthy if you drink water well.
Editor Jeon Soo-hee Reference <Water Notepad>(Written by Gong Seung-sik, Woodeumji)
1
Drinking water helps you beat
spring fever
Spring, when everything comes alive again, is upon
us and, whether you like it or not, spring fever makes
you drowsy. As days become longer and temperature
rises in springtime, there is a radical change in your
body’s hormone balance. Let’s spice up by drinking a
cup of water.
2
how to If you drink too much caffeinated coffees to beat spring
fever and a feeling of sleepiness, your body would respond with
a feeling of tiredness because too much caffeine dehydrates
you. Drink a cup of bottled water with lemon or a cup of green
tea, which contains many beneficial nutrients and compounds,
including antioxidants. Or drink oxygen water to help your blood
supply oxygen to your brain.
3
Drinking water burns fat
It may be time for you to lose weight and get your
best body ahead of summer. While you register into
a health club and buy exercise equipment, the top
priority is to maintain a habit of not gaining weight. If
you want to lose weight, you should have to consume
more energy and burn fat. Drinking water will help you
do that and improve blood circulation, while flushing
out toxins.
how to When you go out, you must carry water with you.
Drinking a glass of water before breakfast and before sleep at
night would help you lose weight. In particular, if you drink cold
water below 10 degrees Celsius when your stomach is empty, it
would help you reduce constipation.
42
Water is best-kept beauty
secret for skin
Moisturizing is one of key components to maintaining
healthy and youthful skin. While sweating appears to
increase the skin’s water content, it actually allows
the skin to lose more water content. In summertime,
when your skin typically loses more water content, you
should maintain a sufficient level of water inside your
body to help keep your skin soft and supple.
how to On average, a woman consumes 10 glasses of water
a day. In order to sufficiently supply water into your body, you
have to drink 2.5-3 liters of water a day in summertime. Oxygen
water that reduces active oxygen inside the body would be
more effective. If you have a difficulty in drinking plenty of
water, you can select other options, including drinking water
which is infused with black beans that also helps improve blood
circulation and flush out toxins.
4
Drinking water helps detoxify
your body
In springtime, yellow dust and other harmful materials
in the air increase the level of toxins in your body.
Drinking a sufficient amount of water is the best way
to keep you healthy and prevent asthma and nose
infection.
how to Drink more than two liters, or eight cups, of water a day.
If you are drinking enough water, your urine will be clear. Water
is not the only option. Drinking tea is another way to detoxify
your body.
K-style
비
빔
밥
Flourish! Bibimbap
Bibimbap, a signature Korean dish, is a
bowl of steamed rice mixed with various
seasoned vegetables, beef, a half-raw egg
and hot pepper paste. With the word literally
meaning “mixed rice,” bibimbap represents
one of the unique characteristics of Korean
cuisine: mixing. Traditionally, bibimbap was
often called “Goldongban” and “Hwaban,”
which mean “well mixed” and “flower rice,”
respectively. Experts recommend an ideal
vegetable-to-meat ratio of 8:2 in a dish
and a bowl of bibimbap gives has everything
you need for a balanced diet. Bibimbap is
best when served with seasoned vegetables
and gochujang (chili pepper paste) spices up
the taste of the ingredients. The beauty of
bibimbap is in the perfect harmony between
various tastes and nutrition that results
from mixing various ingredients into a bowl,
making it popular around the world.
In 2013, a bibimbap advertisement appears in the New York Times.
The full-page ad was created by professor Suh Kyung-duk, a PR
expert for Korean culture, and featured actress Lee Young-ae, heroin
of the epic Korean TV series “Dae Jang Geum,” which is accessible to
over 3 billion viewers around 90 countries across the world.
water,
nature
and
people
+
spring
2013
vol.33