University students from 25 countries will take part in a four day gathering in South Korea to discuss water environment issues facing the world, the Ministry of Environment said Sunday.

The Korea Water Forum, which runs from Monday through Thursday at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, will involve 78 students representing their respective countries with participants exchanging views on water-related issues, the ministry said. Students will also be tasked with coming up with ideas that can be explored to cope with environmental challenges.
The event to be held at the research-oriented school in Daegu, 302 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is the fifth of its kind with students from the Philippines, China, Singapore, Iraq and Uzbekistan as well as South Korea to be present this year.

"Initially some 856 students from 36 countries applied to take part in the gathering," the ministry stressed.

It said students will issue a "water declaration" during the forum, with English to be used during all events as well as reports and findings to be released.

Organizers said this year sessions will be held on climate change adaption, water quality conservation, sustainable water use and ethics for water.

"There will be special lectures by a former UN official on climate change," the ministry added. It said students will get a chance to tour Changnyeong Upo wetland, South Korea largest and most well-preserved swamp area that was created about 140 million years ago.

The ministry said those that win awards at the event will get the opportunity to visit Sweden and Germany later in the year to take part in global water conferences. (Yonhap)