Country Profile

COUNTRY PROFILE - REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Republic of Korea is a land-mass in Eastern Asia having a geographical area of 99373 sq. km. with a population of about 46 million. Most of South Korea receives a precipitation of 75-130 centimetres yearly. The official language of Republic of Korea is Korean. The Korean Peninsula extends southward from northeastern. It is about 1080 kilometres long and at its widest point, about 515 kilometres wide. Korea’s coastline measures 2388 kilometre. Seoul is the capital of the Republic of Korea and is its largest city.

Population

The population of Republic of Korea as of 1997 is about 46 million, with a growth rate of 0.98%, population density of 463 persons per km2, birth rate of 1.6 per female and death rate of 5.4(male 6, female 4.7) per 1,000 persons. The male-female ratio is 101.5%.

The farm population consists of 4.47 million (male 2.15 million: female 2.32 million) which is 9.7% of total population.

Land resources and land use

The Republic of Korea had 99,373 km2 of national land in 1977, which included 64,413 km2 (64.8%) of forest, 19,235 km2 (19.4%) of cultivated land, 2,822 km2 (2.8%) of rivers and 12,903km2 of other types (13%). The average amount of cultivated land per capita was 0.042 ha and the average farm household had 1.336 ha including 0.808 ha of rice paddy and 0.528 ha of upland. The mountainous forest areas cover about two-thirds of the national land. The cultivated land is mainly composed of 7,607 km2 of uplands and 11,628 km2 of paddy fields. The uplands comprised 473 km2 of orchards and 511 km2 of pastures. The cultivated land and forest have been shown to bear a sharp decreasing trend since the 1980s by being converted into roads, houses, industrial sites and other purposes.

The cultivated land is utilized to grow food crops (1,314 thousand ha), vegetables (285 thousand ha), oil and cash crops (108 thousand ha), orchards (174 thousand ha), green house crops (92 thousand ha), some permanent crops (25 thousand ha), and other products (98 thousand ha).

A total of 2,096 thousand ha of yearly land use indicates a 107.8% land use rate by growing two or three crops on some parts of the cultivated land. The cultivated areas for food crops cover rice (1,052 thousand ha), barley and wheat (70 thousand ha), miscellaneous grains (30 thousand ha), pulses (122 thousand ha) and potatoes (40 thousand ha).

Land

As a result of concentrated efforts in agricultural water resource development by Korean Government, 882,000 ha of the rice production area was converted into irrigated paddy fields by 1997, which accounts for 76% of total rice production area. However, about 50% of the irrigated paddy fields are still subject to possible damage from the drought with 10-year frequency because of poor irrigation facilities. Besides these problems, 10,000 reservoir (55% of the 18,000 existing reservoirs) do not function well due to this deterioration.

Physical and physiographic constraints

Major physiographic constraints are large mountainous areas, which are prone to erosion due to steep slopes and high intensity rainfall. These conditions limit development in the mountain area. Similarly the absolute shortage of flat plain area has led to the conversion of farming areas into industrial and urban areas. The recent development of industry as well as urbanization due to the increase of population is the major cause of the reduction in farmland.

GDP and GNP

The Korean national economy has been steadily developed since the 1960s. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was US$ 480.2 billion in 1996, and dropped to US$ 437.4 billion in 1997. Gross National Product (GNP) per capita decreased from US$ 10,543 in 1996 to US$ 9,511 in 1997. The economic growth rate was 8.7% in 1995, 6.9% in 1996, and 4.9% in 1997. The gross saving ratio in 1997 was 34.6%: 24.3% in the private sector and 10.3% in the government sector.

Export volume increased sharply from US $ 1.0 billion in 1970 to US $ 63.0 billion in 1990, and it reached US $ 136.2 billion in 1997.

Agricultural Productivity

The climatic conditions in Korea allow one harvest of most crops except some vegetables and food crops. The agricultural productivity of major crops is relatively high with high inputs of fertilizers and chemicals, applying advanced farming skills, intensive extension and farm mechanization. The yields of paddy rice, barley, wheat, potato, maize and pulse in 1997 recorded 6,950kg, 3,820kg, 4,040kg, 5,000kg, 4,110kg and 1,570kg per ha, respectively.

The yield of rice in Korea is the highest among all the food crops and indicates a high level in the world as well. Chinese cabbage is the most widely grown among the vegetables and yields 65,210kg per ha each season. Apples are one of the major fruits and harvests are 16,300kg per ha.

Water Resources

Korea has 1,274 mm of average annual precipitation, which is estimated at 126.7 billion m3 of water in volume. Out of 126.7 billion m3 of water, 69.7 billion m3 discharges to rivers and streams showing a 55% runoff rate and 57 billion m3 evaporates or infiltrates as a direct loss. Total available surface and ground water is estimated at 47.2 billion m3 which includes 23.0 billion m3 of river flows during the non-flood season, 10.8 billion m3 of stored water in multipurpose dams and agricultural reservoirs and 13.4 billion m3 of ground water.

Water Demand and Supply

Water demand has been steadily increasing for the last several decades due to the increase in population, irrigation area and industries, as well as the rapid expansion of urban areas. The water demand in 1994 amounted to about 30.1 billion m3 which comprises 6.2 billion m3 of municipal use, 2.6 billion m3 of industrial use, 14.9 billion m3 of agricultural use and 6.4 billion m3 of instream flow augmentation. Half of the total water demand came from agricultural use.

Approximately 32.5 billion m3 consisting of 17.2 billion m3 of river discharge, 2.6 billion m3 of ground water and 12.7 billion m3 of stored water in reservoirs were supplied in 1994. Total water supply slightly exceeded total water demand in that year.

Water Potential Developed and to be Developed

The usable water potential is estimated at 83.1 billion m3. The water potential consists of 69.7 billion m3 of river discharge and 13.4 billion m3 of ground water.

Of the 69.7 billion m3 of surface water potential, about 27.5 billion m3 (17.2 billion m3 of river flows and 10.3 billion m3 of reservoir storage) is being used and the remaining 42.2 billion m3 is assumed to be the potential to be developed. Excluding 3.4 billion m3 of developed ground water (1997), of the 13.4 billion m3 of total available ground water, 10 billion m3 becomes potentially developable ground water. Therefore, the amount of water potential to be developed totals 53 billion m3, which are 42.2 billion m3 of surface water and 10.8 billion m3 of ground water.

Plans for Development

According to the long-term plans for water resources development, approximately 5.1 billion m3 of surface water is scheduled to be developed by the end of 2011. The plan includes the construction of 28 multipurpose dams with a storage capacity of 4.3 billion m3 and many agricultural dams with a total storage capacity of 0.8 billion m3. A great number of small-scale ground water development projects will be executed by various sectors. However, water resources development has become more difficult in recent years due to an increase in construction and compensation costs, limited appropriate dam sites, and strong opposition from the inhabitants and environmental concerns.

Storage

About 18,000 agricultural dams together have 3.0 billion m3 of effective storage capacity and irrigate about 506 thousand ha of rice paddies. Most agricultural reservoirs have small storage capacities with less than one million m3 and only 377 reservoirs have more than one million m3 of effective storage capacity. The 35 existing large dams for hydro-electric power generation, municipal or industrial water supply and flood control have a total storage capacity of 13.5 billion m3 and effective storage of 9.3 billion m3. Seventeen large dams having a total storage capacity of 3.9 billion m3 are currently under construction.

Run of the River

Since approximately two-thirds of river water flows during the three months of the flood season, much of flood discharge flows directly into sea. Therefore, only 46.7 billion m3 from 69.7 billion m3 of river discharge can be considered available. River discharges show considerable variation from season to season. River’s discharge remains low during dry season from October to June and runs high during the wet season from July to September. Monthly river runoff in billion m3 is measured at 1.5 (January), 1.6 (February), 2.6 (March), 4.8 (April), 4.2 (May), 5.1 (June), 11.5 (July), 12.9 (August), 9.9 (September), 3.3 (October), 2.3 (November) and 1.5 (December).

Withdrawals

A total of 14.9 billion m3 of water for agricultural purpose is withdrawn from reservoirs (9.4 billion m3), pumping stations (2.7 billion m3), headworks (1.9 billion m3), tube-wells and other sources (0.9 billion m3). Most agricultural water is used for paddy rice and about 500 million m3 of water is applied for upland crops. The water for non-agricultural use amounted to 15.2 billion m3 which includes 6.2 billion m3 for municipal use (41%), 2.6 billion m3 for industrial use (17%) and 6.4 billion m3 for instream flow augmentation (42%).

Efficiency of Water Use

Efficiency of agricultural water use is reported to be 80-85% for rice irrigation and 60-85% for upland crop irrigation. The measure of efficiency in rice irrigation includes only seepage loss through canals while operational losses are not properly counted. Therefore, actual rice irrigation efficiency seems to be considerably lower than 80%.

Waste Water Recycling

Wastewater recycling is in an initial stage in Korea. At present 6 waste water recycling stations with a combined treatment capacity of 3.9 million m3 are being operated and other 6 stations with a treatment capacity of 23.2 million m3 are under construction.

Approximately 160 thousand m3 of seawater is desalinized at 16 stations for supplying drinking water, mostly on island areas.

Environmental Concerns and Ameliorative Actions

Water pollution has accelerated since the 1970s and water quality improvement has become a major task in the 1990s. In order to monitor water quality, 1,698 water quality measuring stations are operated throughout the country: rivers (530), reservoirs (153), domestic water sources (589), agricultural water sources (300), and others (126). Water quality measurements in BOD in the four major rivers in 1997 showed 4.1 mg/l at Noryangjin in the Han River, 4.2 mg/l at Mulgeum in the Nakdong River, 3.4 mg/l at Buyeo in the Kuem River and 7.2 mg/l at Najoo in the Yongsan River.

Ground water table drawdown and ground water contamination occurred in some areas and many small wells have been abandoned in urban areas.

Water pollution is caused mainly by domestic, industrial and livestock wastes. Domestic and industrial waste discharges amount 14.6 million m3 and 7.3 million m3 per day, respectively. A total of 398 wastewater treatment plants treat about 10 million m3 of waste discharge and many other plants are under construction or are planned. The basin areas, which produce water for domestic use, are protected by law such as the designation of streamside management zones, reserved forest and specified areas for the preservation of clean water.

National Issues

Four most significant national issues for the development and management of the water for food and rural development are identified as follows :

The most significant issue is the development of agricultural and rural water resources under the spirit of environmentally sound and sustainable development. The construction of medium size multipurpose dams and irrigation reservoirs is recommended for supplying the increased water use. Enhancing existing reservoirs is advisable because of its fruitful merits. Linked operation of dams in a basin or transfer of water between different watershed areas is also the apparent method within some degree of limitations.

The second is water saving by a good water management and reasonable maintenance. The water saving is the most environmentally protective and sustainable conservation method for the sake of its advantages as well as its effectiveness on reducing the new construction needs to meet the increased water demand. The effective use of reservoir storage, water saving irrigation, construction of concrete ditch, and water management by a tele-monitoring and tele-control (TM/TC) system are the relevant methods fall into this category.

The third is protection of water from pollution. Catchment management is essential. Pollutant sources should be regulated by prohibiting the discharge of themselves. Fundamental environmental protection facilities must be broadened and enhanced. Water quality monitoring system should also be strengthened. Ground water should be conserved.

The fourth is the rearrangement of water management organizations and water laws. Many kinds of water laws must be unified and clarified. Two independent organizations for the agricultural and rural water development and for the management and maintenance of developed water, respectively, should be merged into one agency for more effective operation in the forthcoming 21st century.

In August 1996, the Korean government established the Committee for Water Resource Management and Policy under the Office of the Prime Minister (Chairman: the Prime Minister, members: ministers from the Agriculture and Forestry, Environment, and Construction and Transportation Ministries) to prepare a comprehensive plan for water resource management for the 21st century.

Private sector participation

There is no private water resource and irrigation development except a number of tideland reclamation areas that were developed by private companies. All the investment costs and a part of operational and maintenance costs have been borne by the government budget since 1988.

Concept of water

Historically, community water rights have been recognized, and as such, water was owned by the community and not by individual farmer. Water was a social good in these days, even if self-help works were needed. After establishing Irrigation Associations from the 1910s to the 1950s, farmers have had to pay water charges and part of the construction costs, changing the concept to be more closely tied to the economy.

Since the last decade, the concept of water had changed again from economic back to social, as a result of on the increase of subsidies.

Overall national vision

The main policy objectives for water for food and rural development in Korea are (1) to establish an agricultural production structure that ensure a stable supply of staple foods and paddy rice and (2) to create a better rural living environment with coexistence among the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in rural areas.

Several national visions within the planning projects will be identified as follows :

1. To strengthen the development of the agricultural production infrastructure, particularly that of paddy rice for stable self-sufficiency in staple foods. This will include: the development of water resources for agricultural and rural use as a provision against drought, drainage improvement projects, the completion of un-finished large scale farmland reclamation projects for ensuring high quality farmland.

2. To establish agriculture’s production base early on to make mechanized farming possible. This will include an agricultural road improvement project, a farmland consolidation project and the development of upland production base.

3. To scale up the investment for the efficient management of water resources and related structures and facilities. This will also include the reorganization of agencies in charge of development and management of agricultural and rural water as well as rehabilitation and modernization of hydraulic structures and facilities.

4. To shift the development method for the preservation and conservation of national land and the environment. Disaster prevention and the conservation of farmland are also important from the viewpoint of national land conservation.

5. To pursue rural development where the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries coexist in rural areas. This will include the village sewage projects and integrated rural development projects.

6. To strengthen international cooperation and to study the North Korean agricultural production infrastructure as a provision for reunification.