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http://dx.doi.org/10.3741/JKWRA.2020.53.9.691

Calculating virtual water for international water transactions : Korea focused international trade analysis  

Park, Sungje (Future Resources Institute, Research and Development Center)
Lee, Minhyeon (Future Resources Institute, Center for Technology Policy)
Park, Kyeyoung (Future Resources Institute, Research and Development Center)
Shin, Jihye (Future Resources Institute, Center for Technology Policy)
Publication Information
Journal of Korea Water Resources Association / v.53, no.9, 2020 , pp. 691-699 More about this Journal
Abstract
South Korea's available water resources per capita is very small compared to global average as there is a high population on small land. Thus, it is imperative to secure water resources for the safe livelihood of the citizens. As an advanced, industrialized country, South Korean economic dependence on agricultural has greatly lowered. Unless South Korea utilizes foreign water resources, it is impossible to provide agricultural and livestock products the same as current levels. However, virtual water-related research in South Korea is still inadequate. When establishing the water resources plan, it does not consider the international trade of virtual water. This research aims to solve this issue by analyzing the international virtual water trends focusing on South Korea. Consequently, the export and import of virtual water trade was identified according to country and item for 248 countries and South Korea. According to the results, South Korea's agricultural and livestock virtual water has much higher imports than exports, which outputs with agricultural by-products being the main import. In 2018, South Korea imported 72.2 billion ㎥, which is 29 times the exported amount of 2.5 billion ㎥. The research results can be used as baseline data for establishing the national water resources plan in the future.
Keywords
Water footprint; Virtual water; Export/import; Water balance analysis; Virtual water trade;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 7  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
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