[Inside Chodong]We Cannot Rely on Rain-Making Rituals

During the recent holiday, 800 mm of torrential rain fell across the Gyeongnam area, which had been suffering from an extreme drought. Regions that were on high alert due to difficulties securing agricultural water were hit with volumes of rain that far exceeded simple relief, even resulting in casualties. Although the drought has ended, the water problem remains unresolved. As the frequency of extreme weather events increases, the necessity of water management has become an urgent issue.

The Future Drought Fund, established by the Australian government in 2019, is worth considering in this context. Its approach went beyond merely supplying water in times of drought—it focused on boosting agricultural resilience and building research and adaptive systems. The central idea is to prepare for the next drought even during times without water shortages.

Around the same period, the city of San Diego in the United States established a Water Bank. This system allows companies to utilize the surplus capacity of water and sewage facilities. By doing so, it reduces the burden of building new facilities for businesses while efficiently utilizing existing infrastructure.

How is Korea responding in 2026? As the drought in Gyeongnam intensified, the government mobilized 200 water tank trucks and 400 firefighters. More than 4,600 rounds of water supply support were also carried out. However, this approach alone cannot respond to ongoing and recurring droughts. Due to climate change, drought patterns are shifting, and the number of water-dependent industries is increasing. It is essential to consider not only how to respond after a drought starts but also what to prepare before a drought occurs.

Although the government has organized an inter-ministerial "Drought Task Force," it is closer to a temporary organization that will likely disappear once the crisis is over. The mission of the task force mainly consists of declarative actions, such as voluntary conservation efforts and strengthening cooperation with local governments.

From now on, the risk of regional water shortages should be regularly analyzed, and for areas with higher risks, budget and equipment should be allocated before droughts even begin. The most basic measures are expanding the use of treated wastewater and rainwater. Groundwater also needs to be managed to ensure a stable supply where it is needed. Alternative water sources, such as seawater desalination, should also be considered based on local conditions.

Securing continuous funding is essential. Relying only on emergency budgets whenever a drought occurs has clear limitations. Investing in risk reduction in advance is more efficient than spending money on recovery after damage has happened.

Korea must develop the resources and systems needed to invest in long-term water management, rather than relying solely on one-time emergency budgets. The water problem is not limited to rural areas. In the future, industries with high water consumption, including artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, are expected to increase, creating scenarios where transporting water by tank truck is impossible.

It is now imperative to predict which regions will face water shortages before a drought and to prepare the necessary facilities and budget in advance. What Korea needs now is not just a government that responds well to droughts and floods, but one that can predict and prepare for the changing flow of water due to climate change.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.