Han Jeong-ae, the Democratic Party secretary general who leads the National Assembly Water Forum, said, "We need to modernize the water supply system, which has been managed with a focus on agriculture, so that the semiconductor industry and agriculture can use it together." She also said securing water resources is essential to stably operate the Lee Jae-myung administration's three mega projects, and noted she would move to provide legislative support.
According to the political sphere on the 1st, the National Assembly Water Forum held a debate session at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 31st under the theme "How to supply industrial water for the three mega projects' semiconductor industry."
At the debate, measures were proposed to secure water for the three mega projects, including ▲ expanding the use of treated wastewater as industrial water ▲ modernizing aging agricultural water facilities ▲ establishing a reasonable compensation system when using agricultural water for multiple purposes ▲ improving water security capacity by installing groundwater dams.
Han, who serves as president of the National Assembly Water Forum, said, "At a time when every industry needs water, it is time to consider at a national level how to make good use of limited water," adding, "A comprehensive water supply plan that also prepares for extreme drought response must be established. The National Assembly Water Forum will support this with laws and systems."
At the session, Kim Ho-eun, Director General for water use policy at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, presented on "Plans to secure industrial water for the three mega projects' semiconductor industry," and Jeong Hye-ryeon, Director General for food policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), presented on "The status of agricultural water and improvement plans."
Director General Kim said, "Securing an ultra-gap in national advanced strategic industries is possible only when stable water supply is ensured," adding, "The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment will preemptively secure industrial water sources before corporations' demand arises and build a stable water supply network resilient to climate change through multilayered source acquisition."
Director General Jeong said, "We will implement the smart pressurized irrigation project, which can reduce water loss by 30% to 40%, and build the Yeongsan River alternative water quality purification facilities without a hitch so that farmers after the project can feel that 'water supply has improved compared with before.'"
The designated discussion featured Kim Doo-il, president of the Korean Society of Water and Wastewater, Kim Sang-woo, head of the water resources policy support team at Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRC), Kim Sung-Joon, a professor at Konkuk University, Maeng Seung-jin, Commissioner of the Presidential Water Commission, Bae Young-dae, head of water resources planning at K-water, So Seung-young, head of hydro operations at Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP), and Yoo Cheol-sang, president of the Korean Water Resources Association. They presented policy tasks related to securing water resources needed for the three mega projects.