Analysis of water public awareness of elementary,  middle and high school students in South Korea and enhancement strategies

Yookyung Lee; Seungho Lee

doi:10.3741/JKWRA.2026.59.5.473

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2026 Vol.59, Issue 5 Preview Page Next Page

Analysis of water public awareness of elementary, middle and high school students in South Korea and enhancement strategies 한국 초·중·고등학생의 물 분야 공공의식 분석 및 향상 방안

31 May 2026. pp. 473-487

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Abstract

This study investigates the water public awareness of elementary, middle and high school students in South Korea and suggests strategies for improvement. Key components evaluated include the value and significance of water, awareness of water’s impacts on the environment, society, and economy, evaluation of water policy, attitudes toward water conservation and reuse, and water information sharing and participation. The Head-Heart-Hands, 3H framework is deployed to measure students’ levels of water awareness across these dimensions. A nation-wide online survey was conducted with 900 students of elementary, middle, and high schools (300 each school level) considering gender, age, and region. As a result, the Hearts and Hands dimensions demonstrate relatively high levels, on average 87.6% and 73.9%, respectively. The Head dimension was relatively lower, on average 65.4%, including the awareness of water management system and policy and individual water use. By school level, middle school students show the highest level, elementary school students ranked the second, and high school students the lowest level. Regression analysis discloses that experiences and satisfaction with water and environment education exert significance influence across all three dimensions. By contrast, parental education, economic activity, and residential type have little impacts on students’ water public awareness. It will be necessary to introduce tailor-made water education in school as well as communities, develop digitized education content, disseminate best practices, and improve relevant laws and regulations to support water awareness initiatives.

Keywords

Elementary, Middle, and High School Students

Water Public Awareness

Enhancement Strategies

Water Education

본 연구는 국내 초·중·고등학생을 대상으로 물 분야 공공의식 수준을 체계적으로 진단하고 이를 향상하기 위한 정책 방안을 제시하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 「물관리기본법」과 국가물관리기본계획에서 제시하는 개념을 토대로 물의 가치와 중요성, 환경·사회·경제적 영향 인식, 물 관리 정책 평가, 보전·재이용에 대한 태도, 정보 공유와 참여 등을 포함하는 물 분야 공공의식을 인지–감정·태도–행동(3H) 차원으로 분석하였다. 초·중·고 학생 900명(각 300명)을 대상으로 성별·연령·지역을 고려한 할당표본을 설계하고 온라인 설문조사를 통해 자료를 수집하였다. 수집된 자료는 기술통계 분석을 통해 영역별 공공의식 수준을 파악하였으며 인지·감정·행동 간의 관계를 규명하기 위해 다중선형회귀분석(Multiple Regression Analysis)을 실시하였다. 분석 결과, 전체적으로 감정·태도 영역(평균 87.6%)과 행동 영역(73.9%)은 높은 수준을 보였지만 인지 영역(65.4%)은 물 관리 시스템·정책, 개인 물 사용량 이해도 등에서 상대적으로 낮게 나타났다. 학년별로는 중학생의 공공의식이 가장 높고 고등학생이 전반적으로 가장 낮았으며 도시 규모별로는 읍·면 지역 학생들의 공공의식이 대도시 및 중·소도시에 비해 전반적으로 취약한 것으로 확인하였다. 회귀분석을 통해 물·환경교육 경험과 이에 대한 만족도가 인지, 감정·태도, 행동 전 영역에 걸쳐 유의미한 관련성이 보임을 확인하였다. 반면, 부모의 학력, 경제활동, 거주 형태 등 가정·환경 변수의 영향은 제한적인 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 학교와 지역사회를 중심으로 한 맞춤형 물 환경교육 강화, 디지털 기반의 교육콘텐츠 개발, 우수 사례 확산, 법·제도적 기반 정비 등을 통해 학생들의 물 분야 공공의식과 실천 행동을 제고할 필요성을 시사한다.

키워드

초·중·고등학생

물 분야 공공의식

향상 방안

물 교육

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Information

Publisher :KOREA WATER RESOURECES ASSOCIATION
Publisher(Ko) :한국수자원학회
Journal Title :Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
Journal Title(Ko) :한국수자원학회 논문집
Volume : 59
No :5
Pages :473-487
Received Date : 2026-02-04
Revised Date : 2026-03-18
Accepted Date : 2026-03-24
DOI :https://doi.org/10.3741/JKWRA.2026.59.5.473

Journal of Korea Water Resources Association ISSN:2799-8746(Print) 2799-8754(Online) 한국수자원학회 논문집

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