SKT Opens Air Route with Gyeongbuk Province... UAM Cooperation Agreement Signed

The ‘K-UAM Dream Team’ consortium, consisting of SK Telecom, Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, and T map Mobility, announced on the 16th that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Gyeongsangbuk-do for cooperation on Urban Air Mobility (UAM).

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

(From left) Imi-ae, Vice President of Korea Airports Corporation; Eo Seong-cheol, CEO of Hanwha Systems; Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do; Lee Jong-ho, CEO of T map Mobility; and Shin Yong-sik, Vice President of SKT, posing for a commemorative photo after signing an agreement at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office on the 15th. Photo by SKT

The Dream Team and Gyeongsangbuk-do agreed to closely analyze the UAM operational environment in Gyeongsangbuk-do in line with the enforcement of the ‘Act on the Promotion and Support of Urban Air Mobility’ scheduled for April next year, and to cooperate in introducing a Gyeongbuk-type UAM service in phases toward commercialization.

The Dream Team established a UAM cooperation system with Daegu City in October last year. By partnering with Gyeongsangbuk-do this time, it has become possible to create a metropolitan UAM transportation network covering both Daegu and the Gyeongbuk region.

Through this agreement, both parties will cooperate in developing various UAM service models such as transportation, public services, and tourism, discovering dedicated routes, and constructing vertiports (UAM takeoff and landing sites). They will also take the lead in creating a UAM ecosystem in the Gyeongbuk region by preparing win-win and cooperation plans with local companies and fostering specialized UAM industry personnel.

To this end, SKT will operate comprehensive UAM services including building a dedicated aerial communication network and introducing aircraft. Korea Airports Corporation will provide UAM vertiport construction, operation, and UAM traffic management services. Hanwha Systems will develop and operate UAM aircraft, manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), as well as navigation and control solutions. T map Mobility will be responsible for developing and operating a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform that connects UAM with ground transportation.

Gyeongsangbuk-do will secure infrastructure such as UAM operation sites and facilities and provide administrative support for project promotion including permits and approvals. It will also support all matters related to linking UAM with ground transportation and work to secure social acceptance within the local community.

SKT, which unveiled its vision as a ‘Global AI Company’ last September, is promoting the UAM business as part of implementing ‘AI Transformation (AIX)’ to enhance 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.

SKT is particularly strengthening cooperation with local governments to verify various UAM use cases such as tourism, public services, and logistics, and to secure partners for pilot projects and commercialization. Following MOUs with Jeju Island and Daegu City in September and October last year, SKT has continued to lead the UAM business by signing agreements with several local governments including Gyeongsangnam-do in May this year, and Sejong, Daejeon, Chungbuk, and Chungnam in October.

SKT has also stably secured aircraft, which are considered key to UAM commercialization. In June, SKT made a $100 million (approximately 130.6 billion KRW) 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 in 2024.

To commercialize UAM, SKT formed a consortium with Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, and T map Mobility and has been actively promoting the UAM demonstration project led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport since February this year. The plan is to meticulously verify the technical safety and integrated operability of each element such as UAM aircraft, traffic management, and infrastructure, and to launch commercialization in 2025.

Shin Yong-sik, Head of SKT Connectivity CO, said, “This agreement will serve as an opportunity to explore diversification of UAM operations including public, tourism, and metropolitan passenger transportation.” He added, “SKT will strive to improve the quality of life for residents of Gyeongbuk and bring innovation to the transportation system based on safe UAM services and AI technology.”

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