Seoul's new Arisu head aims to export trust in tap water

Kwon Min, the new head of Seoul Arisu, wants the city’s expertise in safe tap water to travel well beyond Korea’s capital, helping other overseas cities build reliable water systems while further deepening trust at home.

Kwon, who assumed the position earlier this month, said the city is committed to sharing its technology and know-how with partner cities where simply turning on the faucet can still be a health risk.

His remarks come as trust in Seoul’s tap water reaches a record high: A recent survey found that 75 percent of residents now drink straight from the tap — a level of trust officials say reflects many years of investment in water quality and pipe replacement.

But safe tap water is still a distant goal in many parts of the world, which is why Kwon wants Arisu’s hard-won trust to become an exportable asset, bringing trust to places like Laos and Tanzania.

“If any city needs our technology and our know-how, we should help wherever our capacity allows,” he said in an interview with The Korea Times, adding that drinking water is more fundamental than almost anything ...