“Accelerating Toward a Drone-Normalized City” … Changwon Special City, the Only City in Gyeongnam Selected for Two Consecutive Years in National Drone Competition

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam was the only city in Gyeongnam to be selected for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024 for the Drone Demonstration City Construction Project led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, securing a total of 1.2 billion KRW in national funding.

Aerial view of Changwon City Hall captured by drone.

The project involves discovering and proposing drone utilization models tailored to regional characteristics and demonstrating the services. This year, 36 local governments nationwide applied, and 17 local governments were finally selected. The project is scheduled to start in March and continue until November 29.

Changwon Special City aims to build a "Drone Everyday City centered on users, flying high and wide with drones in Changwon Special City," establishing drone flight routes for delivery and conducting deliveries of convenience items such as beverages and snacks using Daewon Leisure Park, Buk-myeon Waterside Ecological Park, and Mannaljae Park as delivery bases.

After the drone demonstration city project ends, the city plans to secure its own budget to promote the drone delivery service business and accelerate the establishment of a user-centered drone everyday city.

In 2021, the city was selected for the "Drone Special Free Zone Designation Contest Project" and has been conducting demonstration projects with its own budget in two areas: the lower Nakdong River area near Buk-myeon Waterside Ecological Park and the Masan Bay area. Being selected for this drone demonstration city construction project is expected to create a synergy effect and further develop the future new industry of AAM (Advanced Air Mobility).

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, said, "We were the only city in Gyeongnam to be selected for two consecutive years in the drone demonstration city construction project contest. Now, beyond just demonstrating drone delivery, we will do our best to make drone delivery practical and commercialized, building a user (citizen)-centered drone everyday city and making Changwon Special City a smart city."

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