SKT Opens Ultra-Wide UAM Era in Chungcheong Region

SK Telecom announced on the 25th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the promotion of the super-regional UAM (Urban Air Mobility) project in the Chungcheong region with Sejong Special Self-Governing City, Daejeon Metropolitan City, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Chungcheongnam-do through the ‘K-UAM Dream Team’ consortium (Dream Team), which includes Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, and T map Mobility.

UAM is an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) based air mobility service powered by electricity. It is an eco-friendly mode of transportation that can take off and land vertically without a runway in urban areas and can be linked with various ground transportation modes.

The Dream Team has been strengthening cooperation with local governments by announcing UAM business collaborations with Jeju Island in September last year, Daegu City in October, and Gyeongsangnam-do in May this year. By establishing a cooperative system with local governments in the broader Chungcheong region, including Sejong, Daejeon, Chungbuk, and Chungnam, the Dream Team is expected to accelerate the commercialization of UAM in Korea.

To promote the Chungcheong region UAM project, the Dream Team and local governments in Chungcheong have agreed to identify super-regional UAM routes that enable convenient and rapid travel within the Chungcheong area and to develop related services. Additionally, they plan to conduct pilot projects to utilize UAM not only as a transportation mode but also for various purposes such as emergency medical services, public services, cargo transport, and tourism.

In particular, to establish a UAM ecosystem in the Chungcheong region, they will devise win-win and cooperative measures with Chungcheong-based companies. They will also collaborate on joint technology development and workforce training to ensure that UAM becomes a representative transportation mode in the Chungcheong area.

SKT will be responsible for AI-based comprehensive UAM service operation, establishing a dedicated aerial communication network for UAM, and aircraft introduction. Korea Airports Corporation will handle the construction of UAM vertiports and provide UAM traffic management services utilizing navigation facility infrastructure.

Hanwha Systems will take charge of UAM aircraft development, operation, manufacturing, and maintenance, as well as supplying and servicing UAM traffic management solutions. T map Mobility will develop and operate a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform that integrates UAM with ground transportation.

The Chungcheong local governments will secure infrastructure such as UAM operation sites and facilities and provide administrative support for project promotion, including permits and approvals. They will also work on linking UAM with ground transportation and securing community acceptance.

SKT, which unveiled its vision as a ‘Global AI Company’ on the 26th of last month, is promoting the UAM project to realize ‘AI Transformation (AIX)’ that enhances industrial productivity and efficiency by introducing AI. SKT plans to actively utilize AI to introduce personalized services linked with ground transportation and unmanned autonomous flight in UAM in the future.

Notably, in June, SKT made a $100 million equity investment in global UAM aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation, securing exclusive rights to use Joby aircraft in the Korean market. In September, SKT signed a cooperation agreement with Joby for domestic UAM demonstration projects and commercialization, completing preparations to bring Joby aircraft into Korea next year.

Yoo Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom, stated, “UAM is gaining attention not only for alleviating urban traffic congestion but also as a super-regional mobility connecting adjacent areas. SKT will open the era of super-regional UAM in the central region of Korea, the hub of the nation’s transportation, based on safe UAM services and AI technology.”

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