The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Jeoung-ae) and K-water (CEO Park Jae-Hyeon) announced that the "International Estuary Symposium 2021" will be held in Ananti Hilton Busan on 26 - 28 October. The symposium will feature the theme "Restoration and Future of the Nakdong River Estuary."

International scholars and researchers from the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Portugal will attend the symposium among domestic experts, officials in institutions and NGOs. The symposium aims to explore the ecological features of the estuary, its restoration, and future estuarine management. 

Some participants will join virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic circumstances. Also, any citizens interested can watch the live streams of the symposium on YouTube. 

※ Search "International Estuary Symposium" or "IES2021" on YouTube (www.youtube.com)

On Oct. 26, the first day of the symposium, domestic and international experts will visit the Nakdong River Estuary where the fourth opening of the barrage this year is undergoing. They will discuss the status of the Nakdong River Estuary, including its unique ecological value.

On day 2, beginning with the opening ceremony, the symposium will share the management and restoration cases of estuaries in the U.K., the U.S., and the Netherlands and the restoration effort of the Nakdong River Estuary in Korea.  

On the last day, the symposium will cover where the future estuarine management is headed, from sustainable restoration and management of estuary, integrated water management to connection with the local smart city, etc. 

The full schedule is available at www.ies.or.kr, the homepage of the International Estuary Symposium.

Han Jeoung-ae, the Minister of Environment, said, "The restoration of the Nakdong River Estuary is one of the most advanced cases of both restoring the estuarine ecosystem and maintaining the function of the estuary barrage at the same time." She also added, "The Ministry of Environment will support all the efforts to ensure coexistence between nature and human, by working together with the government, local governments, and experts."

For inquiry, please contact 

· Aquatic Ecosystem Conservation Division, Ministry of Environment 044-201-7040/7041