Innovate & Integrative: A Study Tour Journey Through South Korea’s Water, Sanitation, and Solid Waste Management Schemes and Technologies

In 2024, from September 9th to 13th, a nine-member delegation representing Bolivia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Paraguay, along with the IDB Water and Sanitation Division, embarked on a journey 30 years into the future: landing in South Korea. Three decades ago, South Korea dealt with challenges in the water, sanitation, and solid waste sectors, including open dumpsites, community project rejection, disarticulation, data shortage, and low circular economy adoption. Today, these remain pressing issues in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

South Korea has successfully overcome these significant challenges through a sustainable transformation of its water, sanitation and solid waste management schemes. This blog explores the key lessons learned from South Korea's success, including sectorial integration, governance, and innovation. These insights could be pivotal in advancing progress across the region. As a partner in The Source of Innovation Alliance, the South Korean Government plays a crucial role in helping LAC countries to implement innovative solutions in these critical sectors.

Sector Integration as a Path to Efficiency and Circularity

South Korea effectively integrates space for wastewater and solid waste treatment, connecting these systems with energy and other services. A prime example is Hanam Union Park, which manages wastewater and solid waste underground, generating high-quality treated water for industrial applications, while Mapo incineration facility transforms solid waste into energy. Another example of this integrative approach is being develop in Colombia through a project financed by Source of Innovation (CO-T1735) focused on developing climate-resilient wastewater treatment systems.

Governance and Actors' Inclusion for Successful Projects

South Korea´s governance for water and waste management processes effectively integrates the public and private sectors, along research and innovation centers. A key example of this integration are KEITI green clusters, where innovation meets research and support for funding entrepreneurs. One such entrepreneur is Superbin, a company with an AI-supported machine that receives waste from citizens in exchange for money. Similarly, in Santa Catarina, Brazil, a project funded by Source of Innovation (RG-T4058) is using AI to detect recycling materials quality and quantity.

Technology, Data, and Innovation as Key Tools

The K-Water complex not only organizes water resource governance, but also provides real-time data on water quality, quantity, and hydraulic works. This advanced capability enables swift responses in a densely populated country with limited land. In order to avoid contingencies, key to this system are prevention, risk mitigation and measurement. For instance, a project in Peru (PE-T1511) aimed to improve water resource management with digital tools, is inspired by South Korea's K-Water complex, optimizing real-time governance. Moreover, a project in Uruguay (UR-T1305) showcases South Korean technology for arsenic removal in water treatment, utilizing advanced techniques.

Operating System and Control of the K-Water Complex - South Korea

Taking Back Public Space for the Community and the Environment

Site visits to South Korea highlighted the country´s remarkable transformation in waste management, emphasizing space for residents and improving urban quality of life. One standout example is the once dumpsite Sudokwon Landfill Park, which has been revitalized in under a decade and transformed into a dream park with a 36-hole golf course, a pool club, and a flower park. Haneul Park, also a former dumpsite, was revitalized in under a decade, offering panoramic views. And the Cheonggyecheon River restoration project running over 10 kilometers, exemplifies urban revitalization at the heart of Seoul.

This successful study tour paves the way for a follow up site visit in 2025, further deepening cooperation with South Korea. Supported by the IDB, this initiative aims to share knowledge and technologies that can drive meaningful change, ensuring a more sustainable future for the region.

Sobre el viaje de estudios y la colaboración de Corea del Sur

El viaje de estudios forma parte de una cooperación técnica con Corea del Sur (RG-T4221) financiada por el gobierno coreano mediante el fondo KPR y la Alianza Fuente de Innovación (con un apoyo especial del Ministerio de Medio Ambiente de Corea del Sur), y ejecutada por el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID), a través del Centro Internacional para la Seguridad Hídrica y la Gestión Sostenible de la UNESCO (en consorcio con HYTSA y EY Corea del Sur). El objetivo de la gira fue fortalecer las capacidades de los sectores gubernamental, público y privado en el desarrollo de estrategias sostenibles de gestión de residuos y agua inspiradas en las prácticas surcoreanas.

El periplo incluyó un seminario de un día con presentaciones del BID y de cada país de ALC sobre el estado de su sector y sus intereses de colaboración, complementadas con aportes de partes interesadas clave de Corea del Sur. Entre el segundo y el quinto día, los participantes recorrieron una serie de instalaciones de agua y residuos, incluyendo el Instituto de Tecnología e Industria Ambiental de Corea (KEITI), el sitio de gestión de residuos de Sudokwon, la planta de incineración Mapo, el Parque Nanjido, Superbin, el complejo K-WATER, la planta de tratamiento y reutilización de agua de Asan, el parque Hanam Union y el museo del proyecto de restauración del río Cheonggyecheon.

About Source of Innovation

Source of Innovation is an alliance of the IDB Group with external partners to promote the development and adoption of innovative solutions in the water, sanitation, and solid waste sector to achieve intelligent, inclusive, and sustainable services, focusing on service providers in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Source of Innovation is funded by the FEMSA Foundation, the Coca-Cola Foundation, the Government of Switzerland through its State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the Government of Israel through its Ministry of Finance, the Republic of Korea through its Ministry of Environment, and the Government of Spain through the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (MINECO). The alliance is also complemented by direct contributions from IDB Lab, IDB Invest and the Water and Sanitation Division, and it coordinates directly with Aquafund, a fund created with IDB capital and to which a wide range of public and private sector partners contribute.

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