"The Growing Threat of Drones in Daily Life"... BISTEP Outlines Direction for 'Anti-Drone Policy'

Proposing Busan-Specific Policy Directions
for Responding to Drone Threats

The Busan Institute for Science and Technology Promotion of Higher Education (BISTEP, President Kim Youngbu), which serves as Busan's dedicated agency for R&D-based science and technology policy, has published the 'R&D Policy Brief' No. 2025-6 under the theme of 'Anti-Drone Policy Trends and Improvement Measures.'

While the proliferation of high-performance drones is increasing convenience in daily life, security and safety threats posed by illegal drones are also rising rapidly.

As cases of unauthorized intrusions by drones continue to occur at airports, nuclear power plants, key national facilities, and large-scale event venues, the need for technologies and policies to counter drones?so-called 'anti-drone' systems?is becoming increasingly prominent.

Through this brief, BISTEP analyzed domestic and international anti-drone policy trends and pointed out the limitations of related laws and systems, as well as governance issues. The brief is particularly noteworthy for its region-specific policy proposals that comprehensively consider Busan's geographical and industrial characteristics and the local drone threat environment.

BISTEP explained that, as Busan is a global tourist city and home to nuclear power plants, ports, and large event venues, and as it is pursuing future mobility industries such as Urban Air Mobility (UAM), it is essential to have a proactive response strategy against illegal drones.

According to the brief, current domestic anti-drone countermeasures are heavily focused on the development of technologies such as detection, identification, and neutralization, while the establishment of legal foundations and on-site response systems remains insufficient. In particular, related technologies and equipment are concentrated within central government, military, and police agencies, leaving local governments?including Busan?lacking in response organizations, equipment, and manuals.

The brief also emphasized that regulations related to anti-drone measures are scattered across the 'Airport Facilities Act,' 'Radio Waves Act,' and 'Aviation Safety Act,' making it urgent to establish an integrated legal and institutional framework and to improve inter-agency cooperation structures.

BISTEP senior researcher Jeon Minhong stated, "A response structure centered on the central government can lead to practical gaps in response," and added, "From a policy and institutional perspective, it is time for Busan to both strengthen organic linkages with the central government and prepare to enhance its own response capabilities."

Through this brief, BISTEP plans to provide foundational materials for an integrated response system and policy roadmap that Busan can establish in collaboration with the central government in the future, and to suggest directions for R&D planning and policy development in the anti-drone field.

R&D Policy Brief No. 06 Cover.

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