As the dry conditions persist along the east coast of Gangwon-do, K-water CEO Seogdae Yun conducted an on-site inspection to proactively respond to potential drought conditions.
On January 30, Yun visited Gwangdong Dam in Samcheok City, a primary drinking water source for the southern Gangwon region(Taebaek, Samcheok, and Jeongseon), to review reservoir levels and inspect the overall water supply system. The inspection was carried out to prepare in advance for possible drought situations in the Yeongdong region and to secure the basis for a stable water supply.
During the visit, he closely examined the reservoir storage levels, the operational status of intake facilities, and water supply scenarios for each drought stage, calling for earlier-than-usual inspections of supply systems and the securing of preemptive water resources. In particular, he emphasized thorough preparedness for emergency situations, including readiness checks for emergency intake facilities, measures to utilize nearby river water such as the Golji Stream, development of groundwater wells, pre-deployment of mobile water supply vehicles, and strengthened cooperation with the relevant agencies.
He also urged that phased efforts be strengthened to diversify the supply networks in response to recurring droughts caused by climate change. K-water began constructing a groundwater storage dam in the Yeongok area of Gangneung in December of last year as part of its alternative water resource development initiatives. In addition, K-water plans to enhance the effectiveness of its drought response capabilities by advancing digital twin and AI-based water management technologies to strengthen its real-time monitoring and precision analysis systems.

The AI water treatment plant technology spearheaded by K-water has received a Committee Draft (CD) approval from the technical committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). At the ISO Technical Committee on Water Supply and Wastewater Services meeting held over two days starting on January 28, the AI-based water supply management guideline (ISO 25288) was approved at the CD stage, effectively confirming its advancement to the Draft International Standard (DIS) inquiry stage—the final gateway before its formal adoption.
This milestone follows the approval of the New Work Item Proposal (NP) in 2024 and the Working Draft (WD) approval in July of last year, marking significant progress within approximately six months. The Committee Draft stage is a crucial step in verifying technical completeness, and the unanimous approval by experts from forty-one member countries underscores its significance. Most notably, it demonstrates that Korea’s AI water management technology has been recognized as a globally applicable standard.
With the completion of this stage, only the formal voting process remains before the final international standard is established in 2027. Once adopted, the international standard is expected to provide a strong foundation for Korean companies to enhance their competitiveness in the global water management market.
The AI water treatment plant system autonomously operates the entire purification process using AI and big data. First introduced at the Hwaseong Water Treatment Plant in 2022, it was expanded to forty-three metropolitan water treatment plants nationwide by 2024, achieving tangible results including annual operating cost savings of KRW 9.4 billion.

K-water recently received the Grand Prize at the “2026 Korea Shared Growth Awards.” At the award ceremony held on February 9 at W-Bridge, K-water’s startup support space in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, K-water was recognized for its outstanding achievements in win-win cooperation.
The award aims to promote a culture of sustainable cooperation by encouraging shared growth initiatives and is presented to exemplary cases of collaboration between large corporations and SMEs. K-water has also achieved the highest ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) rating (AA) for four consecutive years in comprehensive evaluations, demonstrating consistent ESG management performance. This recognition reflects its efforts to ease the burden on partner SMEs while building sustainable competitiveness together with them.
Since 2022, K-water, in cooperation with the Korea Commission for Corporate Partnership, has systematically supported water-sector SMEs by providing ESG diagnostics, indicator setting, customized education and consulting, and on-site improvement assistance. To date, a total of sixty-two companies have been supported, of which sixty have obtained "ESG Excellent SME certification". K-water plans to continue expanding technological cooperation and shared growth programs to foster mutual prosperity and innovation across the climate tech ecosystem.

On February 25, at the “2025 Best Companies to Work for in Korea” awards ceremony held at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, K-water ranked in the Top 3 in the “100 Best Companies to Work For in Korea” category, maintaining its top-tier position for the second consecutive year.
The evaluation combines the Trust Management Index (75%), based on employee surveys, with a Culture Assessment (25%) in order to review a company’s overall organizational culture. K-water achieved its highest-ever Trust Management Index score of 91 points.
This achievement reflects K-water’s continuous efforts to improve working conditions and introduce innovations to organizational culture in ways that employees can clearly feel. Following a joint labor-management declaration in 2024 to address low birth rates, K-water significantly expanded its work-life balance programs, further enhancing flexible work arrangements, childcare hours, and family care leave policies. It also diversified its support initiatives, including the family participation program “Family Love Happiness Camp.”
Additionally, K-water implemented policies designed to ease childbirth and childcare burdens, such as supporting co-location assignments for K-water employees who form married couples and expanding the operations of its workplace daycare centers. To foster communication and collaboration, the corporation introduced tailored departmental coaching programs (“Bespoke”), cross-level integration programs (“Blending”), and an anonymous communication channel (“TokTok Suryum”), further strengthening a culture centered on openness and cooperation.