MODSIM-Based Study on Water Deficiency and Management Strategies in the Yeongsan-Seomjin River Basin

Global warming and extreme hydrologic events caused by climate change are increasing the frequency and intensity of abnormal droughts worldwide. This phenomenon has also been observed in Korea, as evidenced by the major droughts in 1968 and 2017. More recently, the 2022 droughts in the Yeongsan and Seomjin River basins have highlighted the growing severity of the issue. Drought is not only a meteorological phenomenon; it expands into hydrological, agricultural, and socio-economic dimensions in a complex manner. Korea has made continuous efforts at the national level to ensure a stable supply and efficient allocation of water resources. However, recent drought events have exposed the limitations of the current water resource management system, indicating the need for a more systematic approach. This study aims to quantify and evaluate potential countermeasures to address water scarcity in the Yeongsan and Seomjin River basins. To achieve this, we utilize current water shortage data from the National River Basin Water Resource Management Plan : Water Supply-Demand Assessment (under development by the Ministry of Environment) and compare and analyze various countermeasures that can be established at the national level. As a result of implementing these countermeasures, it was found that an additional 71.45 million m³/year of water could be secured in the Yeongsan River basin and 52.59 million m³/year in the Seomjin River basin. Given the organic interconnection between the Yeongsan and Seomjin basins, it is considered more appropriate to evaluate water shortages and establish countermeasures for the two basins collectively, rather than separately. It is expected that this integrated approach will contribute to effective water management and resolution of water scarcity in the event of future droughts in these regions. Additionally, considering the uncertainties of climate change and the complexities of water resource management, continuous monitoring and the establishment of adaptive management strategies are deemed necessary.