Water issue can escalate inter-Korean tension.
By Kim Se-jeong Climate change is creating water scarcity around the world, and Korea is not an exception, especially considering inter-Korean relations.
His field of expertise is trans-boundary water conflict.
In 2009, North Korea released water from a dam on the Imjin River that killed six South Koreans who were camping downstream.
Thursday’s lecture came as Korea is gripped by severe drought.
"It’s not physical scarcity of water where there’s no drinkable water, but Korea imports huge amounts of virtual water," the professor said.
Virtual water refers to water used in industrial and agricultural production.
The amount of virtual water one person uses in Korea is 1,179 cubic meters per year.
But Swain’s classification doesn’t sit well with some scholars and policy makers in Korea.
They claim Korea has enough water.