Abstract
There was a transition from participatory irrigation management (PIM) to public irrigation management (PubIM) in Korea when Korea Rural corporation and Community (KRC) merged with Farm Land Improvement Associations (FLIAs), which had managed 60 % of irrigation areas. While making a number of achievements, some problems occurred in the public irrigation management, such as lack of farmers' participation, increased amount of water usage, and elevating operating costs. Accordingly, this paper suggested ways to increase efficiency in water usage and reduce operating costs under the public management through the motive power of farmers participation. First, WUGs replaced the discarded water management committee should be reorganized to revive the concept of PIM in the form of autonomously reinforced one and the roles and functions of WUGs and the board of representatives should be strengthened. The member of new type of WUGs should participate in the national and regional water management committees as a stakeholder of irrigation water user. And also new type of WUGs initiates not only the management of irrigation water but also the management of irrigation water quality and non-point source pollution in the watersheds. Those additional activities of WUGs should be properly compensated. Second, subsidies (direct payments) should be provided to faithful farmers as an incentive for their labor supply. Third, water fees could be charged to large scale agriculture companies. Fourth, professional managers could be hired, management targets would be adjusted, and incentives should be offered. These efforts are expected to improve the irrigation management by encouraging farmers' participation under public system.