Gwangju Buk-gu Designated as Drone Special Free Zone by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Competition

The view of the Jia Bridge area in the Drone Special Zone. Photo by Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Gwangju Metropolitan City Buk-gu (District Mayor Moon In) announced on the 14th that it has been designated as a Drone Special Free Zone by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

This contest was held for the first time to promote the commercialization and business of drone systems since the enactment of the Drone Act in 2019, and 15 local governments nationwide were selected.

When designated as a Special Free Zone, benefits such as deferral, exemption, or simplification are provided for drone-related certifications, permits, approvals, evaluations, and reports under the Aviation Safety Act and the Radio Act.

The designated free zone this time covers an area of 10.4㎢ around Oryong, Daechon, Wolchul, and Yongjeon-dong, mainly consisting of the Yeongsan Riverbank and farmland, where safety can be guaranteed as the top priority during drone flights.

Buk-gu plans to demonstrate commercialization models for seven projects within the free zone by next year, including hydrogen fuel cell-based cargo drones, multi-purpose modular drones utilizing mobile communication networks and hydrogen fuel cells, and river management drones.

Moon In, Mayor of Buk-gu, said, “The designation as a Drone Special Free Zone will be a stepping stone for the local drone industry to advance further,” and added, “We will focus on demonstrating and commercializing the technologies possessed by drone companies by utilizing the Drone Special Free Zone in the future.”

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