K-UAM Dream Team Takes to the Skies of the South Coast... Promoting Tourism Projects

The K-UAM Dream Team Consortium (hereinafter referred to as the Dream Team) is promoting the Namhaean tourism urban air mobility (UAM) project in collaboration with Gyeongsangnam-do. The Dream Team includes SK Telecom, Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, and T Map Mobility.

On the 23rd, the Dream Team announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote the Namhaean tourism UAM project. The Dream Team plans to apply a UAM-based transportation system and business model to the government-led Namhaean tourism belt project, thereby supporting government policies at the private sector level and fostering the UAM industry base and ecosystem in the Namhaean region.

Lee Jong-ho, CEO of T map Mobility (from left), Yoo Young-sang, President of SK Telecom, Park Wan-soo, Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do, Uh Sung-chul, CEO of Hanwha Systems, and Yoon Hyung-joong, President of Korea Airports Corporation, are posing for a commemorative photo after signing an agreement at the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Office on the 22nd.

SKT is responsible for comprehensive UAM service operation based on artificial intelligence (AI), establishing a dedicated airspace communication network for UAM, and introducing aircraft in partnership with Joby Aviation from the United States. Korea Airports Corporation will build UAM vertiports linked to the Namhaean tourism belt and provide UAM traffic management services utilizing navigation facility infrastructure. Hanwha Systems will supply UAM aircraft development, operation, manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, as well as UAM traffic management solutions optimized for tourist line terrain and coastlines. Gyeongsangnam-do will provide UAM operation sites, infrastructure, permits, and administrative support.

The Namhaean region of Gyeongsangnam-do, home to the Hallyeohaesang National Park, 876 islands, and 27 beaches, is rich in marine tourism resources and has seen ongoing discussions about aerial tourism.

Through this agreement, the Dream Team and Gyeongsangnam-do expect to develop a high value-added tourism industry that combines pristine natural environments with future aviation services, thereby revitalizing the local economy and enabling the Namhaean coast, known as the "Mediterranean of the East," to emerge as a global tourist destination.

Korea has started demonstration projects this year and is actively preparing for UAM commercialization. Currently, major countries worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan, are promoting UAM commercialization as a new transportation system to solve traffic congestion and carbon emission issues.

The Dream Team, participating in the demonstration project, plans to lead UAM commercialization in 2025 by thoroughly verifying the technical safety of aircraft, traffic management, infrastructure, and the integrated operability of each element to ensure safe operation in urban environments.

Yoo Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom, said, "Through cooperation with Gyeongsangnam-do on UAM, we will contribute to revitalizing the Namhaean regional economy and establishing a UAM industry base." He added, "SKT will lead the development of safe and convenient UAM services by collaborating with top domestic and international partners such as Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, and Joby."

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