K-water and Samsung E&A signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 18 to expand the overseas deployment of globally leading technologies. The agreement was established to combine K-water’s advanced water technologies with Samsung E&A’s global project execution capabilities, thereby expanding access to overseas water markets and strengthening the export competitiveness of Korean water technologies.
Samsung E&A has extensive experience in global plant EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) and energy solutions, having completed more than 1,600 projects in 48 countries. The company has also accumulated considerable expertise in water treatment including wastewater treatment and ultrapure water production facilities.
Through this agreement, the two organizations will jointly pursue water-related business development and information sharing using their respective technologies and networks, identify opportunities for overseas water projects, commercialize and operate projects jointly, and develop and operate domestic water treatment and water reuse businesses. In addition, they intend to identify new domestic and international business opportunities and establish a stable foundation for project implementation through joint reviews of technology applicability, financial feasibility, and country-specific risk factors from the earliest stages of project development.

K-water and Chang Jiang Water Resources Commission under China’s Ministry of Water Resources hosted the 16th Korea-China Regular Technical Exchange Meeting on May 12. The event was organized to commemorate the 20th anniversary of cooperation between the two organizations following the signing of a memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation in 2006.
The Chang Jiang Water Resources Commission is an integrated water management agency responsible for water resource planning and management—as well as flood and drought response—within the Chang Jiang (Yangtze) River Basin, China’s longest river.
Over the past two decades, the two organizations have shared technologies and field experiences related to water resource policy, dam operation, and water disaster management.
During the event, K-water CEO Seogdae Yun held a high-level meeting with a delegation led by Vice Chairman Ma Shuishan of the Chang Jiang Water Resources Commission to discuss AI- and digital-based transformation in water management and future directions for cooperation. The technical exchange meeting featured presentations and discussions under the theme “AI and Digital Twin-Based Water Resources Management,” covering topics such as water resources information analysis and water allocation technologies, digital twin development and operation for dam infrastructure, and global water cooperation and joint project implementation.

K-water hosted a high-level meeting and an R&D Cooperation Forum at its headquarters in Daejeon on May 14 with Vietnam’s National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NAWAPI), discussing cooperation measures for reducing urban flooding in Hanoi and responding to climate-related challenges.
The meeting was held to put into action the mutual commitment to cooperation in the water sector as confirmed by the ministers of both countries in April. The two organizations agreed to collaborate on the introduction of advanced water management technologies such as digital twins and AI-powered water treatment plants, as well as joint research and capacity-building programs. Prior to the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation participated in an R&D Cooperation Forum hosted by the K-water Research Institute, where intensive discussions were held on collaborative approaches to addressing water-related challenges including urban flood mitigation in Hanoi. The delegation also visited the Nakdong River Estuary Barrage and a smart water treatment plant in Busan. Building on this cooperation, K-water plans to expand opportunities for Korean water companies’ joint entry into the Vietnamese market.

K-water was rated “Excellent”— the highest rating—in the 2025 Public Institution Shared Growth Evaluation announced by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on April 27. This is an improvement from the previous year’s “Very Good” rating, reflecting K-water’s continued efforts to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises through field-oriented initiatives.
The evaluation covered 133 public institutions nationwide, and K-water was recognized for its SME support framework and efforts to build a collaborative business ecosystem. In particular, K-water received high marks for providing practical growth support based on its “4STEP Support System,” which offers linked assistance from startup and demonstration to technology development and market expansion.
K-water also continues to promote a wide range of shared growth initiatives including support for overseas expansion by Korean water companies, open innovation based on public-private collaboration, demonstration support for AI and digital technologies, and assistance in strengthening ESG capabilities among partner SMEs. In recognition of these achievements, K-water was also honored with the Korea Shared Growth Grand Prize in February.