[Climate Tech Battle⑭] 'Watervation' Creating Clean Air Environment with Water Filters

Interview with Jung Yoon-young, CEO of Watervation
The key is the water intake method and technology that finely breaks water
Technical skills recognized by many places

Inside commonly seen air purifiers, there is a filter. Not only is there the hassle of having to replace the filter periodically, but used filters end up in landfills and are incinerated, which in turn pollutes the air again. Watervation, a provider of air purification and air pollutant treatment solutions, defined this as a ‘vicious cycle of purification.’ After repeated efforts to break this vicious cycle, they developed the ‘Water Spray-type Waternet Construction Method’ (WVG), which creates filters using water to enable eco-friendly purification.

Jung Yoon-young, CEO of Watervation, is introducing the product in an interview with Asia Economy. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

On the 17th, Jung Yoon-young, CEO of Watervation, stated, “We want to become a company that can create a clean air environment for people through eco-friendly methods.” Jung began contemplating air purification while helping his parents run a barbecue restaurant. He explained, “Because of the smoke, my throat felt irritated, and I wanted to help my parents. I thought of a water-based air purifier because on days with heavy fine dust, the air becomes cleaner when it rains.”

Jung personally searched for patents on wet-type air purifiers, acquired technology transfer, and collaborated with the relevant technical team to develop WVG. He said, “After verifying the patent with a patent attorney and confirming market potential, I left my job to start the business.”

The core of WVG lies in the water lifting method and the technology to finely atomize water. Without an underwater pump, it uses pressure and centrifugal force to rotate the water, enabling water lifting. When sprayed while fully filled with water, water circulates due to pressure differences. The sprayed water acts as a filter. Additionally, by finely atomizing the water to increase surface area, the bonding force between gas and liquid is enhanced, which removes harmful gases and even captures carbon. It recorded a 100% reduction effect on three harmful gases?formaldehyde, ammonia, and acetic acid?which have molecules smaller than fine dust. The finely atomized water lowers the temperature by about 5 degrees through vaporization, so no additional energy is required to cool the product.

One of WVG’s biggest advantages is energy saving. Jung said, “Usually, both water and air need to be circulated, requiring pumps and fans, but our technology operates with only a fan, reducing power consumption.”

Watervation’s purification solutions range from those suitable for general households and offices to those for multi-use facilities, densely populated areas, industrial sites, and factories, as well as livestock farms that reduce odors. Jung explained, “The solution can be scaled up according to size, from small to large scale.”

The technology has been recognized in various places. It won the Gold Award from the International Federation of Inventors' Associations (IFIA) in Germany and the Green Invention Grand Prize at the iENA Nuremberg International Inventors Exhibition. Earlier this year, it was finally selected for the ‘Global Startup Academy’ hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and last month, it won the Grand Prix at the 17th Korea World Women Inventors Convention. Jung said, “Korea has a lot of manufacturing, producing significant amounts of harmful gases, and as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) regulations become stricter nationally, industries are trying to shift to eco-friendly processes. At expos, many industries talk about the need for eco-friendliness, and actual collaborations with some companies have led to rapid technological development.”

Jung Yoon-young, CEO of Watervation, is introducing the product in an interview with Asia Economy. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

This year’s goal is to gain recognition for more advanced technology through a second phase of technical verification (PoC) with large corporations in the second half of the year. They also plan to increase the distribution of air purifier products to individuals. Ultimately, their dream is to create a ‘carbon platform’ that connects individuals, industries, and governments so that individuals can participate in carbon reduction. Jung said, “I started this business thinking, ‘How would the world change if everyone used water filter air purifiers?’ I believe air purifiers can become carbon capture devices. Just as computers became widespread among individuals and changed the world, we will create a carbon-zero ecosystem where individuals, companies, and governments all work together to keep the Earth clean.”