Initiation of Goheung-type UAM Tourism Commercialization Research Project

Published 26 May.2023 13:24(KST)

The Nation's Only Demonstration Infrastructure Utilization

Preparation for Government UAM Pilot Project Selection

Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Yeong-min) has begun full-scale preliminary preparations to secure the commercialization of UAM in the tourism sector, following its status as the only open-area demonstration site for the Korean Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge project (K-UAM GC 1) in the country.

According to the county, it announced on the 26th that it has started a research project this month to design preliminary routes for Goheung-type UAM (Urban Air Mobility) tourism commercialization, linked with the creation of the South Coast tourism belt.

[Photo by Goheung-gun]

The project, which will run until April next year, involves joint participation from Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, Yeosu City, and Sinan-gun, with Korea Air, PNU Drone, and Daewoo Construction participating as executing organizations.

The executing organizations plan to comprehensively conduct preliminary route design and route suitability verification for UAM tourism commercialization using medium-to-large drones, optimal site analysis for vertiports for UAM takeoff and landing, and analysis of weather, radio wave, and communication environments.

This research project is being promoted to prepare for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s UAM demonstration and commercialization pilot project in line with the government policy direction for urban air mobility commercialization in 2025, and to serve as basic data for building the UAM industry foundation.

Governor Gong Yeong-min said, “Riding UAM to tour Goheung, the roofless art gallery with its pristine natural scenery, is no longer just a story in movies,” adding, “We will do our best to become a region that leads not only in UAM demonstration but also in tourism commercialization.”

Meanwhile, Goheung-gun, which has the nation’s only urban air mobility demonstration infrastructure, plans to conduct the first phase of the demonstration project from August this year to December next year, with participation from 12 consortium companies including Hyundai Motor, Korean Air, and Hanwha. Consortium companies that pass the first phase will proceed with the second phase demonstration project centered in the metropolitan area.