Applied Materials Korea is continuing its local river cleanup activity, "Our River Guardians," for the sixth year and is expanding the scope of its activities to include rivers in downtown Seoul this year. The plan is to expand the water quality improvement project, which has been centered on the Gyeonggi region, to the Seoul area, which is heavily affected by domestic sewage and non-point source pollution, with the aim of simultaneously restoring river ecosystems and boosting citizen participation.

Applied Materials Korea announced on March 24 that it had signed a business agreement with the Environmental Action Alliance and would continue to sponsor related activities this year. The signing ceremony was held on the 23rd near Tancheon Bridge in Seongnam, and following the signing, CEO Park Kwang-sun and employees threw EM (Effective Microorganisms) mud balls into the stream to mark the start of the year's activities.

This project started in 2020 as a protection activity for some rivers in the Gyeonggi region, such as Hwangguji Stream and Osan Stream. This year, the target areas are being expanded to include Tan Stream, Anyang Stream, and Bulgwang Stream in Seoul, in addition to seven major rivers in the Gyeonggi region, including Hwangguji Stream, Osan Stream, Gongneung Stream, and Jungnang Stream. The operation program consists of throwing EM mud balls, removing invasive plants, and planting water purification plants, and the application method varies according to the characteristics of the river.

The methods of activity are also expanding to include participatory forms. Starting in March, students will participate in the process of making EM mud balls in cooperation with local schools, and in the second half of the year, programs involving employees and their families are scheduled to be operated. For citizens who find it difficult to participate in person, a non-face-to-face method is also permanently available, allowing them to participate in water quality measurement and purification activities at nearby streams following online training.

Such activities are significant in that the industrial sector’s environmental social contribution is moving beyond one-off campaigns and connecting to local ecological management and civic education. In particular, given that urban streams often have sections where multiple pollutants flow in, practical effects can only be expected when purification activities are carried out alongside improvements in the awareness of residents in the living areas; therefore, expanding participation-based programs is considered a crucial factor.

Some results have also been confirmed. Over the past six years, approximately 20,000 citizens have participated in this activity, and about 435,000 EM mud balls have been thrown. Last year, the water quality of Hwangguji Stream improved from Grade 3 to Grade 2 based on average BOD values, while Munsan Stream improved from Grade 6 to Grade 4. Attention is now focused on whether the expansion to downtown streams in Seoul this year can continue this trend.