Water www.kwater.or.krNature| 2007 SPRING & People ) 2007Korea water resourcesspring corporation water ( Whisper of Sunlight Whispering To Stone-Wall Kim, Yung-Nang I want to gaze at the skies all day long, Lying quiet on spring's path; Like sunrays whispering to a stone-wall, Like a smiling stream underneath the grasses. I want to gaze at the silken sky Where a soft emerald-stream flows Like shyness on a maiden cheek, Like the ripples that caress Poesy's bosom. * KOREA WATER RESOURCES CORPORATION 02 Whisper of water SCENERY OF WATER 04 Korea's Five Greatest Rivers 1 - Seomjin River, a spring-heralding river 08 World Wide Water - Lake Titicaca, the Mother of the Inca Empire 12 World Festival in water - Thingyan: the Water Festival in Myanmar VIEW OF K-WATER 16 STEP to Global Best 1 - The Storm Water Drainage Construction Project , Sri Lanka 18 STEP to Global Best 2 - Generation Integrated Operation System (GIOS) 20 Rendezvous with K-water People -Water Resources Policy & Economy Research Institute 22 Spot K-water 24 Art Treasure of Korea -Cheonmachong Gold Crown of the Shilla era Water, Nature & People SPRING 2007 Vol.9 Published by the Korea Water Resources Corporation _ March 17, 2007 Design Luck’s Way Edit. Co., LTD. Inquiries & Application (8242)6292236/Email:[email protected] ‘Water, Nature&People’ is K-water’s Quarterly magazine for overseas countries. ● SCENERY OF WATER Series of Korea's Five Greatest Rivers 1 The Seomjin River is a river derived from Daemisaem at the lower edge of Palgongsan (1151m in height), the boundary of Jinan-gun and Jangsoo-gun of Jeollabuk-do. This river runs through Jinan, Imsil and Goksung, and continues to flow southeast after being joined by Yocheon in Namwon. Finally, it runs into the Boseong River at Aprok-myeon of Sooncheon-si. When it enters into the land of Goorye of Jeollanam-do, it brings together all of rivulets running through clean villages of the south of Jirisan, and at the point of Hadong, it reaches Gwangyang cleaving the boundary of Gyeongsang-do and Jeolla-do, and finally slips through Galsa-man to be part of the sea. Ranked the 9th longest river in Korea, the Seomjin River is called the river of Hadong even though it runs through many country regions. This is because the river rising from Palgongsan becomes neither wide nor deep enough until it reaches Whagae-myeon of Hadong-gun after passing through Toji-myeon of Goorye- gun. It gives the authentic appearance as a great river only at this point. A great river is supposed to give plenty of benefits to people. As you see in other large-scaled rivers, the Seomjin River harbored bulk ships and huge markets at its lower edge. Though shrinking into itself, Hadong village market had given great reputation as one of the top 10 largest village markets in the Joseon Dynasty. And thanks to its abundant water resources, it played a backdrop of an epic novel named 'The Land' written by Park, Gyeong-li. Seomjin River, a spring-heralding river By Nam, Jeong-woo Photographer of a journey 04 ∷∷ Water, nature and people ▶ 2007 Seomjin River spring春 2007 ◀ Water, nature and people ∷∷ 05 The Seomjin River with the legend of toads The way to‘ Daemisaem’, its source of flowing The mouth of the Seomjin River boasts a vast There is a Korean adjective 'Moojinjang, meaning that it sand soil field; its sands are very fine and high- is 'very abundant, infinite number of things'. The word quality. It was a river with plenty of sands in the stemmed from the jargon of Buddhism, meaning to 'show Baekje era, and it had once been called endless mercy'. However, it is currently used as the first Sacheon(sand stream). The character of 'Seom' meaning. The word was composed of three initials of found in the name of the Seomjin River is the Moojoo, Jinan and Jangsoo, three mountain villages of Chinese character meaning 'toad'. It was because of Jeollabuk-do, and has been used as the meaning of 'way too two old legends. much, abundantly and a great deal of'. The first legend is as follows. At the end of the Since a long time ago, Moojinjang has been considered one of Goryeo Dynasty during the reign of King Woo the deepest hinterlands in the South. It is surrounded by a (1385), Japanese piracy was at its peak. The pirates range of mountains to become a secluded area full of unique were often coming up Gwangyang-man and the mountain village cultures. From the innermost spot of this Seomjin River. Once, they tried to go across the mountain rise two branches of the Geum-River and the river in the side of Hadong. At that moment, the Seomjin River. Of the two, Seomjin River flows back to millions of toads residing in Seomgeo of Jinsang- DaemiSam at the lower edge of Palgongsan, Shinam-li, myeon had all come out and croaked scaring them Baekwoon-myeon, Jinan-gun of Jeollabuk-do. away. In other words, the noise of toads delivered 'Daemi' in the indigenous word meaning 'a mountain peak'. the village; and from then on, the name of the river It is also called 'Celestial Daemi', which means that listed up has been Seomjin. to the heaven from the Seomjin River. It felt as if searching The second legend is also a very funny story, hap- for the deepest hinterland to trace the path towards pening at the same historic period at the end of the Daemisaem. It can be reached only after passing by divine Goryeo Dynasty with the peak of Japanese piracy. mysterious Maisan which looks like two ears of a horse, trav- The Korean soldiers were running from the elling through a small number of remote mountain villages, Japanese and reached Seomjin Naru, but there was and climbing over mountain ridges several times. Despite the no ship found in the river and they were in danger. curiosity how other outer people can find this hindmost At that moment, the Toads appeared on the river mountain area, it is known to be a popular venue for many and formed a bridge with their bodies and let them explorers thanks to its reputation as the origin of the Seomjin across. When the Japanese tried to cross them the River. Since it has not so much in the amount of water in toads subsided into the river with all of Japanese comparison to Geomryongso, the source of the Han River or soldiers drowning. Hwangji Pond, the source of the Nakdong River, it is very mysterious that this small spring is the mother of such a vast river. The locals seem to take great pride in having such a famous root of the river. 06 ∷∷ Water, nature and people ▶ 2007 Korea's most scenic river in the spring seasonal view Korean's representative literature named 'The Land'. It is In spring, the daybreak of the Seomjin River begins a good idea to enjoy the harmonious view of the river with fog. Silent fog is chased around to the dancing and stretched fields after climbing over Gososeong of winds, and mountain villages and all sides of the moun- Akyang, but if it is too laborious to climb up the steep tain are filled with mysterious ambiance. It renders a path, it is also recommended to peek into the view over bizarre enchantment; cool but cozy, invisible but the ice- the fence of the house of Choi Champan in Pyeongsa-ri. breaks in your heart. The sunrise daybreak of the There is one more thing not to be missed out in the Seomjin River always makes my heart palpitate with joy. Seomjin River. It is the Marsh clam soup. Marsh clam is Whenever under the weather and feeling weary, I drive a fresh water clam 2-5cm in size, living in the river with to the Seomjin River. So, the river is the healing river for the influx of sea water. It had once been common around me. the country, including the Seomjin River, the Nakdong- Spring endows the Seomjin River with the carpet of pic- River and the Yoengsan-River, but it is disappearing in turesque flowers. The river is surrounded by all kinds of other river areas with the exception of the Seomjin River. full blossoms, and villages of blossom hold flower gala It is served in clear broth topped with leeks, and its taste attracting people to enjoy the stunning spectacle of the is deep, palatable and fresh. The king crab and raw river front view. The riverside become usually packed sweetfish are the major dishes of the river, alluring gour- with tourist cars in the weekends of the spring time. It met travelers. The spring of the Seomjin River is starts from Cornus officinalis of Sandong Village in pompous and abundant. The river with full blossom in Goorye, followed by ume flowers of Da-ap Village in March is the exemplary scenic venue to symbolize the Gwangyang. When the river finally sees the full cherry beauty of Korean rivers. blossoms of Whagaedongcheon Sipli Road, the river area turns into castles of flowers. Furthermore, when the gen- tle touch of spring rain is landed, it feels like bathing in the dream with the shower of floating flowers. The lower edge of the Seomjin River is also a travelling destination full of aromatic scent. The aroma of trees in the 1000 year old time-honored temples of Cheoneunsa, Hwaeomsa, Yeongoksa and Ssanggyesa; the vague tea scents of Whagaedongcheon; and the floral balms are well blend- ed.