[Exclusive] Sharp Increase in Drone Flight Fines Over Yoon's Office, Official Residence, and Private Residence Airspace... Nearly Reaching Last Year's Total

Flight Ban Zone Changed Due to Yongsan Relocation
Fine Amounts Over 5 Months Nearly Equal to Past Year

The no-fly zones for presidential security were newly designated after May 10, marking the beginning of the Yongsan era. There are a total of three circular zones centered around the Yongsan office, Hannam-dong residence, and Seocho-dong private home (the two white circles and one blue circle in the right photo). Previously, the zones were P73A, a 2NM radius centered on the Blue House (the small red circle in the left photo), and P73B, part of a 4.5NM radius area around the Blue House (the large red circle in the left photo). Except for the presidential aircraft, entering the P73B zone would result in warning shots, and entering the P73A zone would lead to a shootdown as a rule. However, with the move to Yongsan, the no-fly zone restrictions for P73A and P73B were suspended. New no-fly zones have been established centered on the office, residence, and private home. Once President Yoon moves to the residence, the no-fly zone centered on the private home is expected to be lifted.

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The number of people fined for flying drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) over the presidential office in Yongsan, the Hannam-dong residence, and the Seocho-dong private residence has surged. These three locations are no-fly zones for presidential security. In the five months since the inauguration, fines for drone flights in no-fly zones have nearly matched the total for the entire previous year.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to Rep. Kang Deuk-gu of the Democratic Party on the 20th, the total fines imposed for drone flights in no-fly zones from May 10, the day of President Yoon’s inauguration, to the end of last month amounted to 20.5 million won. This is similar to last year’s total of 23 million won. The Aviation Safety Act considers unauthorized flights in no-fly zones illegal and imposes fines accordingly.

During this period, Yongsan-gu recorded the highest number of illegal drone flight fines with 13 cases, while Seocho-gu saw its first 4 cases. Jung-gu had 2 cases, totaling 19 cases. Looking at the annual figures, administrative penalties for illegal flights in the Seoul metropolitan no-fly zones increased sharply from 3 cases in 2018 to 9 in 2019, and 30 in 2020. There were 23 cases in 2021, and up to October this year, a total of 25 cases (6 before the Yongsan move, 19 after).

Status of No-Fly Zone Changes After May 10 (Source: Office of Kang Deuk-gu, Democratic Party of Korea, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

The no-fly zones were newly designated after the Yongsan era began on May 10. There are three locations: the office (a 2-nautical-mile radius centered on Yongsan), the residence (a 2-nautical-mile radius centered on the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs official residence), and the private residence (a 2-nautical-mile radius centered on Seocho-dong).

Previously, the zones were P73A, a 2-nautical-mile radius centered on the Blue House, and P73B, part of a 4.5-nautical-mile radius around the Blue House. Except for the presidential aircraft, entering P73B results in warning shots, and entering P73A leads to a shootdown as a rule.

With the move to Yongsan, the effectiveness of P73A and P73B was suspended, and although the radius of the no-fly zones centered on the office, residence, and private residence has narrowed, the scale of fines has increased. This is interpreted as a sharp rise in illegal flight detections due to insufficient publicity about the no-fly zones.

Rep. Kang Deuk-gu said, “The presidential office’s reckless relocation is causing unexpected harm to the public,” adding, “As hobby and leisure drone use increases, efforts should be made not only to impose fines but also to actively inform the public about changes to the no-fly zones.”

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