Major Domestic Energy Facilities Exposed to Unprotected Risk from Illegal Drone Flights

Assemblyman Shin Jeong-hoon: "We Must Accelerate Technology Equipment Development, Acquisition, and Legal Revisions"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] It has been revealed that nuclear power plants, thermal power plants, and gas and oil facilities, which are the backbone of the national energy supply network, are defenselessly exposed to illegal drone flights.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to National Assembly Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee member Shin Jeong-hoon (Democratic Party, Naju-Hwasun) on the 5th, the number of illegal drone flights detected near nuclear power plants, thermal power plants, and gas and oil facilities over the past three years (2017 to August 2020) reached 42 cases.

By facility type, the number of illegal drone flights detected was 26 cases at nuclear power plants, accounting for 62% of the total detected cases, followed by 11 cases at Korea Gas Corporation facilities and 4 cases at thermal power plants.

In particular, 14 of these cases were closed due to unidentified operators, revealing that one out of every three illegal flights did not even receive proper follow-up measures.

Power plants and gas and oil facilities are the core of the national power supply network, and if fires or malfunctions occur due to drone attacks or accidents, it could deal a fatal blow to the public’s energy use and safety.

In fact, when Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil field was attacked by drones in 2019 and halted operations, international oil prices surged by up to 19%, leaving a significant impact on the global energy market.

Due to these risks, stronger security measures are required for major energy facilities, but except for some technological developments, clear countermeasures have not yet been established.

Assemblyman Shin Jeong-hoon emphasized, “Core facilities of the national energy supply network, such as nuclear power plants, are defenselessly exposed to illegal drone flights,” and added, “We must accelerate the development and acquisition of technological equipment to technically control illegal drones that appear and strengthen legal measures against offenders, as well as amend related laws.”

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