• 한국농공학회논문집
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• 제58권1호
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• pp.73-80
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• 2016

The aim of this study is to analyze the contribution of regional water resources through the gap between water used for rice production and water used for consumption. The blue water use for rice production and for consumption was quantified and the regional blue water flows were estimated using the virtual water concept from 1995 to 2010. About $1134.4Mm^3/yr$ of blue water flowed among the provinces and metropolises of Korea, and about 28.5 % of total blue water flows came from Jeonnam province. In addition, blue water usage for rice was classified into three categories: water for production, internal consumption, and overproduction in each region. In Jeonnam, $633.8Mm^3/yr$ of blue water totally used for rice production, and 50.9 % and 15.5 % were used for external and internal rice consumption, respectively. The other 33.6 % was used for over production of rice for food security. This study assumed the blue water flows depended on the gap between virtual water use for rice production and consumption. However, the analysis of regional blue water usage and flows might show the importance of other region's water resources, and make policy decision-makers aware of the integrated water management among the regions.