The University of the Philippines and Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) are strengthening cooperation on water resource management, research, innovation, and student development.
During a meeting Sept. 15 at the Executive House in UP Diliman, UP and K-water officials followed through on the memorandum of understanding they signed on April 17. The MOU covers cooperation on knowledge exchange in water resource management, joint research, and student mobility.
K-water’s delegation was led by Chief Executive Officer Seogdae Yun. He was accompanied by Yeong Kong Ko, Vice President and Chief Learning Officer of K-water’s Human Resources Development Institute (HRDI); Yong Deok Cho, Vice President and Chief Global Officer; Kyungjin Shin, HRDI General Manager and head of the K-water Academy; Heejeong Koo, HRDI Senior Manager; Seung Beom Kim, General Manager, and Hyouck Dong Kwon, Senior Manager, both of the Global Business Division; Ji Woong Kim, Asia Office Director; and Hue Yeong Jang, Executive Assistant. Yun also serves as the president of the Asia Water Council.
The UP panel, led by President Angelo Jimenez, included Vice President for Research and Innovation Joel Joseph Marciano, VP for Development Rowaldo del Mundo, UP Resilience Institute Executive Director Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, UP Korea Research Center Director Kyung Min Bae, Office of International Linkages Officer-in-Charge Gino Angelo Velasco, and UP National Hydraulic Research Center Director Eugene Herrera.
The officials discussed practical initiatives, including joint research, academic conferences and symposiums, researcher exchanges, knowledge sharing, and opportunities for UP students and young professionals through internships, scholarships, and academic programs.
They also explored possible collaboration on water-sector development, climate resilience, and applied research to address water- and climate-related challenges.
K-water invited UP to participate in upcoming international water initiatives, including the 4th Asia International Water Week, to be held in Manila in 2027.
Through its constituent units, UP has 42 partner universities in the Republic of Korea.
K-water is South Korea’s state-owned water resource management agency, overseeing water facilities and programs in water supply and treatment, renewable energy, and flood control and mitigation.
