ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a quantitative analysis of the progress on implementing the water goal (SDG 6) in the ROK. By applying a coherent analytical approach, it shows the rising trend of the SDG 6 index, which indicates the incremental improvement of availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation in the ROK context. Driven by a top-down command and control approach, water-related infrastructure and regulatory frameworks in the ROK have been developed along with rapid economic development, population growth, and urbanization, which especially contributed to ensuring availability of water and sanitation services. Nevertheless, the supply-focused approach of the Korean government could not fully address other emerging water issues, such as water quality, social conflicts, water scarcity, integrity of ecosystems, and nexus issues associated with land use, agriculture, and energy. Since all water targets are mutually dependent, it is important to address challenges and opportunities for the water goal in a coherent and balanced manner, based on the understanding of the consequences of policies that are a single target-oriented. Water governance is central to achieving the water goal, so it is critical to improve water governance, focusing on integration, cooperation, and participation.
