[Kim Taemin's Food and Medicine Story] What Kind of Water Should We Drink?

In the summer when the heat is intense, water is essential for sustaining life and quenching thirst along with air. Water makes up about 70% of our body and covers 70% of the Earth we live on. Since ancient times, both Eastern and Western civilizations have regarded proper water management as the greatest responsibility of a nation. During the Roman era, aqueducts were installed to supply high-quality water to the people. This technology has evolved to the present day, and now most people worldwide drink and use water that is safer and cleaner than in the past. Moreover, water products with various characteristics and advantages have become a commodity beyond just sustaining life, enticing consumers, leading many to wonder which water choice is best for health.

Nowadays, households do not use tap water directly for drinking but use water purifiers or purchase bottled water. Both must meet the standards set by the Drinking Water Management Act, overseen by the Ministry of Environment. There was a case where a court ordered a company to compensate customers 1 million won each for hiding the fact that some water purifiers had design defects that caused heavy metal contamination. Although there have been various incidents involving foreign substances in water purifiers, the water purifier market continues to grow annually, with companies ranging from large corporations to small and medium enterprises participating in the market.

225 Bottled Water Brands, Nutritionally Identical

Bottled water sales began in 1988 and grew to a market size of 2 trillion won by 2020. Initially, many people found it strange or unacceptable to buy bottled water instead of drinking free tap water, but now anyone can purchase it without hesitation at convenience stores to quench thirst like any other beverage. Scenes of drinking school tap water to satisfy hunger can now only be seen in movies or dramas recalling the past, showing how much the water market has changed.

As competition in the bottled water market intensifies, excessive marketing infringes on consumer choice. According to the Korea Bottled Water Association, there are 56 water sources but 225 brands. This means many products are essentially the same water with different company or product names. In particular, bottled water from the same source can have price differences of nearly 60% depending on marketing costs or the selling company's profits.

Looking deeper, all bottled water fundamentally meets the standards set by the Drinking Water Management Act, so except for regional characteristics like Jeju Island or Ulleungdo, they are nutritionally almost identical and have no significant quality differences. Ultimately, prices vary more by brand than by content. The reason foreign famous brand bottled waters are sold at high prices is more about differences in water sources and marketing differentiation than nutritional aspects.

Recognized as a Commodity Beyond Life-Sustaining Purpose
Growing Interest in Choosing Healthy Water
225 Domestic Brands Nutritionally Almost Identical
Intake Amount More Important Than Type ... Adults Recommended 2 Liters Daily

Lava Water Classified as Beverage, Not Bottled Water

What about products like ‘deep ocean water’ and ‘lava water’ differentiated from bottled water? Deep ocean water is a product created after the enactment of the Deep Ocean Water Development and Management Act in 2008, referring to seawater existing below 200 meters from the sea surface that maintains water quality safety continuously.

Products sold as lava water are technically not water regulated under the Drinking Water Management Act by the Ministry of Environment but are mixed beverages under the Food Sanitation Act, overseen by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Therefore, they do not need to meet the standards of the Drinking Water Management Act. The manufacturing process of lava water involves separating various minerals from seawater and then mixing an appropriate amount of minerals into pure water, classifying it as a beverage. These products emphasize minerals or hardness to differentiate themselves from bottled water. However, the mineral content in these products is very minimal compared to the daily recommended nutrient intake, so advertising mineral content can be considered exaggerated advertising. One major company was once criticized by a consumer group and had to revise its mineral content advertisements. Facing difficulties in mineral content advertising, some deep ocean water products emphasize hardness or components similar to body fluids, but scientifically, it is uncertain whether these affect health.

While deep ocean water and lava water are legally recognized as water, products labeled or advertised as ion water, life water, or medicinal water that imply health benefits or effects different from bottled water are strictly regulated under the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods. Violations can result in criminal penalties and administrative sanctions such as a 15-day business suspension, so consumers should be cautious. Lastly, there is tap water provided by local governments. Seoul Metropolitan City offers branded tap water called Arisu, which has passed 171 water quality test items. While it may be evaluated differently from a preference perspective, legally and scientifically, it is safe and good for drinking like bottled water or deep ocean water.

How Much You Drink Is More Important Than Which Water

In conclusion, tap water, tap water filtered through purifiers, and bottled water all meet the standards of the Drinking Water Management Act and are completely safe. Especially for bottled water, some products are sold at high prices like famous foreign brands depending on the water source, but the fundamental reason for price differences is marketing costs related to taste or brand rather than quality or nutrition. Ultimately, what matters is consuming a sufficient amount of water necessary for sustaining life and health. Unless you are particular about taste, the water available on the market, including tap water, is safe and scientifically not significantly different. During hot weather like these, hydration is very important. Generally, adults are recommended to drink about 2 liters of water daily, including from food. Therefore, there is no need to always drink expensive bottled water from foreign sources, but it is most important to drink enough water that can be purchased affordably for health.

/Lawyer, Food Sanitation Law Research Institute