Gwangju Buk-gu Opens Drone Park... 'First in Honam Region'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] The drone flight practice field in Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Moon In) has been designated as a drone park, the first in the Honam region, following its designation as a national drone practical test site.

On the 17th, Buk-gu announced that on the 19th, a commemorative event for the designation of the national drone practical test site and drone park will be held at the Buk-gu Drone Flight Practice Field in Daechon-dong 46, attended by officials from Gwangju City, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the 31st Division, Korea Transportation Safety Authority, drone education institutions, drone associations, city and district council members, and residents.

The event will include a congratulatory performance, drone practical test demonstrations, racing drone flight demonstrations, drone soccer exhibition matches, and drone experience classes.

A drone park is a place where the general public can freely fly drones without special permission, designated and operated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Currently, including Buk-gu, there are six such locations nationwide: Seoul’s Gwangnaru Flight Field and Sinjeong Flight Field, Goyang and Namyangju Flight Fields in Gyeonggi Province, Daejeon Drone Park, and Buk-gu is the only one in the Honam region.

Buk-gu’s drone park is located near Gwangju Citizens’ Forest, offering excellent accessibility and no obstacles blocking the view, making it known as an optimal place for citizens to fly drones.

Buk-gu plans to expand convenience facilities such as drone charging stations, benches, shade tents, and public restrooms for visitors to the drone park, as well as safety facilities like artificial turf to promote drone sports.

Additionally, the district intends to focus on fostering the drone industry by promoting national projects for drone research and development and revitalizing drone companies.

Mayor Moon In of Buk-gu said, “With the designation of the drone permanent practical test site and drone park, we hope drone culture will spread further in our region,” adding, “We will actively nurture Buk-gu’s drone industry to grow as a future strategic industry representing Gwangju City alongside the artificial intelligence industry.”

Meanwhile, Buk-gu opened the region’s first drone flight practice field in March last year and has contributed to spreading drone leisure culture by operating free drone experience classes and providing flight locations for drone specialized companies and enthusiasts.

In particular, this year, the existing 7,470㎡ drone flight practice field was expanded to 10,000㎡, and convenience facilities such as an indoor training center and safety facilities were supplemented and improved. On the 28th of last month, it was designated by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority as the nation’s first “National Drone License Permanent Practical Test Site” among special and metropolitan cities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.