The International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) has signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with three Korean professional water societies: the Korean Society of Environmental Engineers (KSEE), the Korean Society of Water and Wastewater (KSWW), and the Korean Society of Ultrapure Water and Desalination (KSUWD).
The agreements were signed in Daegu during Korea International Water Week (KIWW) 2026, held at EXCO Daegu from 9–11 Sep under the theme “Water, Energy, AI: Securing Our Future”. KIWW brings together government, industry, academia, research institutions and water professionals from Korea and around the world.
Each MOU establishes a framework for reciprocal collaboration, including joint conferences and technical sessions, workshops, research and knowledge exchange, publications, professional development and capacity building.
Together, the three agreements connect IDRA’s global network with distinct areas of Korea’s water sector. KSEE represents environmental engineering, including water and wastewater treatment, remediation and sustainability. KSWW represents Korea’s water and wastewater treatment sector, while KSUWD focuses on ultrapure water and desalination, areas closely aligned with IDRA’s expertise and increasingly important to Korea’s advanced manufacturing industries.
Leadership statements
Shannon K McCarthy, secretary general of IDRA, said: “Korea’s water community is among the most technically capable in the world, and it is organised through societies with real depth in their fields. These three agreements give IDRA’s global network direct access to Korean expertise in environmental engineering, water and wastewater treatment, and ultrapure water and desalination. The task now is to turn these frameworks into joint activities that our members can see and take part in, and that work starts immediately.”
Prof Sungkyu (Andrew) Maeng, president of the KSEE, said: “Environmental engineering connects water quality, treatment technology and public health, and the problems we work on do not stop at national borders. Cooperation with IDRA gives our members access to a global network in desalination, water reuse and non-conventional water resources. We intend to build on that access through joint technical sessions, research exchange and opportunities for the next generation of environmental engineers to work internationally.”
Prof Dooil Kim, president of the KSWW, said: “Water challenges cross disciplines, institutions and borders, and they call for cooperation that does the same. Working with IDRA opens a direct route to international exchange in water and wastewater engineering, particularly in advanced treatment, desalination and water reuse. We want this agreement to produce joint activity that our members can take part in, from technical sessions and research exchange to professional development.”
Prof Eun Namkung, president of the KSUWD, said: “Demand for ultrapure water is rising with the growth of semiconductor manufacturing and other advanced industries, and desalination is becoming part of how industrial water supply is secured. IDRA is the natural international partner for our society. We look forward to working together on the technologies, standards and expertise this field will need.”
The agreements were signed as Korea strengthens the connection between its water sector and technology industries, a link reflected in the KIWW 2026 theme. Through the three MOUs, IDRA and its Korean partners will work to build sustained cooperation and support the development and deployment of solutions for resilient and sustainable water systems in Korea and internationally.
