Namwon-si's Full Effort in Site Selection Contest for 'Honam Region Drone Integrated Support Center'

Published 29 Aug.2022 16:46(KST)

[Namwon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Young-kwon] Namwon City, Jeonbuk Province, has decided to actively respond to the site selection contest for the ‘Honam Region Drone Integrated Support Center’ promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

According to the city on the 29th, the Honam Region Drone Integrated Support Center will be composed of spaces for testing, certification, education, and qualification to promote the development of the drone industry.

If the application form is submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport by the 31st, the results will be announced in October after screening.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport set site requirements including a minimum area of 50,000㎡, securing a runway of at least 300m, and installation of infrastructure such as water and sewage systems.

It is especially known to have emphasized that there should be no flight obstacles such as radio interference or altitude restrictions nearby.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will invest 18 billion KRW to create the runway, carry out construction work, and establish equipment, while local governments will be responsible for site preparation and infrastructure such as roads and water and sewage systems.

It is scheduled to be operated under consignment by a public institution under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, with about 20 resident staff members, and an expected 300 annual trainees and qualification exam candidates.

In addition to the basic infrastructure development by the local government, the city plans to propose a utilization plan for the specially provided area and actively respond to the contest application by seeking various methods, including reflecting an additional budget of 18 billion KRW besides the national subsidy.

The construction of the LX Drone Utilization Center is also underway, and a research project for the creation of a future aviation industry cluster (drone, UAM) is currently being commissioned.

If the city attracts the Honam Region Drone Integrated Support Center, it can induce regional industrial development through the settlement of drone manufacturers with expansion potential into advanced aviation, securing a hub position for the drone industry in the Honam region, which is the center of future industries.

It is also expected to resolve the population extinction crisis by creating jobs related to the drone industry and increasing the population.

Mayor Choi Kyung-sik said, “We will do our best to secure a central role in the drone industry through attracting the Honam Region Drone Integrated Support Center and to gain momentum in building overall drone infrastructure in Namwon City.”