Managing the Water-Energy-Land-Food Nexus in Korea

OECD

• Publisher: OECD
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9789264306714
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Sociology
• Index: Social Sciences

Chapter 1. Characterising the Water-Energy-Land-Food Nexus in Korea

This chapter outlines the trends of, and pressures on, Korea’s water, land and energy resources in the context of economic and social development. Distinctive pressures in each of the four main river basins are documented. The chapter concludes with an assessment of the capacity of Korea to respond to pressures and tensions, and the need for future-proofing the water-energy-land-food (WELF) nexus.

1.1. Pressures on the water-energy-land-food nexus in Korea

The water, energy, land and food (WELF) nexus concept is an ideal vehicle for improving understanding of the linkages across these sectors (Figure 1.1). It is useful to identify measures to reduce the pressures and trade-offs, and enhance synergies among the sectors (Ringler et al., 2013).

Figure 1.1. Conceptual framework of the WELF nexus and its drivers of change

Source: Adapted from Ringler, C., Bhaduri, A. and R. Lawford (2013), The nexus across water, energy, land and food (WELF): potential for improved resource use efficiency? Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2013, 5:617–624.

This section outlines the main pressures on water, land and energy resources in Korea. However, it is important to note that heterogeneity between and within river basins is large, with each river basin facing a unique portfolio of water- and nexus-related risks.

1.1.1. Water resources

Korea is among the few OECD countries under medium-high water stress. However, information on freshwater resources and abstractions is fragmented and could be improved, particularly regarding groundwater resources.

In Korea, precipitation is concentrated over the period from June to September, with large variations by year and in each of the four major river basins - the Han, Geum, Nakdong and Yeongsan/Seomjin River systems (Figure 1.2). This poses a major challenge for water management. Steep topography and rapid urbanisation exacerbate the consequences of frequent drought and flooding caused by rainfall patterns (OECD, 2017 a, b).

Figure 1.2. The four major river basins of Korea and the quantity of water resources in each

Source: (MOLIT, 2017), The 4th Long-term Comprehensive Plan of Water Resources (2001-2020) 3rd revision plan.

Water scarcity

As of 2014, the amount of water abstraction reached 33% of total available water in Korea (MoLIT, 2017), significantly higher than all other OECD countries (OECD, 2017b). Hotspots at high risk for water scarcity are present in each of the four major river basins. Scarcity is particularly acute in coastal areas of the mainland and the islands of Korea (Figure 1.3). The volume of total water use exceeds the amount of normal water runoff (which is measured during the off-flood season). As such, flood runoff needs to be captured in reservoirs for later use, desalination is necessary to supplement dam water supply and inter-basin transfers are required during periods of drought. These water management options are expensive, energy intensive and have high carbon footprints.

Figure 1.3. Water scarcity risk evaluation 2020, Korea

Note: High water scarcity (demand exceeds supply >20 million m3); Medium water scarcity (demand exceeds supply >0-20 million m3).

Source: MoLIT (2017), The 4th Long-term Comprehensive Plan of Water Resources (2001-2020), 3rd revision.

Surface water use in Korea amounted to 25.1 billion m3 in 2014 (MoLIT, 2017). Agriculture is the dominant user of water, accounting for 61% of water use in 2014, a decrease from 80% in 1980 (Figure 1.4). Water for domestic purposes accounted for 30% and industrial usage for 9%, in 2014 (MoLIT, 2017). Household per capita consumption in Korea is high compared with most European countries. At 282 l/head/day it is twice that of England and Wales, and more than double (UK Environment Agency, 2008) that in the Netherlands (131 l/h/d), Germany (115 l/h/d) or Belgium (107 l/h/d). Ten percent of available water is designated as river maintenance water and is considered part of total water use, although it is not abstracted from rivers for intentional use (OECD, 2017a).

Recorded groundwater use and the number of groundwater wells have increased significantly (by 140% and 200% respectively) from 1996 to 2013. Groundwater consumption in 2013 was 4071 M m3 (Lee and Kwon, 2016). Agriculture has led the increase in total groundwater use. This has been largely due to: i) recent multiple and prolonged droughts leading to groundwater exploitation in an effort to secure water resources; and ii) the fact that groundwater use for agriculture is exempted from water charges under the current policy to improve agricultural productivity and farmers’ welfare (Lee and Kwon, 2016). As groundwater use has increased, related problems such as overexploitation and pollution has also increased, resulting in groundwater-level decline and ab...

Table of contents

• Title page
• Legal and rights
• Foreword
• Acknowledgements
• Acronyms and abbreviations
• Basic Statistics of the Republic of Korea
• Executive Summary
• Assessment and Recommendations
• Chapter 1. Characterising the Water-Energy-Land-Food Nexus in Korea
• Chapter 2. Managing water for the Water-Energy-Land-Food nexus in Korea
• Chapter 3. Towards policy coherence and sustainable management of the Water-Energy-Land-Food nexus in Korea
• Chapter 4. Towards effective water governance for the sustainable management of the Water-Energy-Land-Food nexus in Korea
• About the OECD