Jang Seob Yoon
Research expert covering South Korea
Drone industry in South Korea - statistics & facts
Originating from military research, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, are steadily becoming a familiar sight, with the market forecast to continue expanding in the years to come. Alongside leading countries such as China or the United States, the South Korean drone industry is rapidly growing. The versatile potential of UAVs has made them the subject of many trials and demonstrations in South Korea.
Companies and universities nationwide collaborate in experiments against this backdrop of drone commercialization. Like the designated local governments, subsidies are provided to these entities to encourage business. As a result, looking at the status quo of the domestic UAV landscape highlights how enterprises that utilize drone technology comprise most of the industry. Additionally, a large increase in the number of certified drone controllers for industrial use can be seen.
Subsidies for commercial drone development
The South Korean government displays a vested interest in the development of the domestic drone industry. Since 2019, cities have been selected as testing grounds on an application basis. They then receive government funding to facilitate the research carried out in such places. A wide array of use cases is evaluated in each region, ranging from last mile delivery services to specialized leisure using drones.Companies and universities nationwide collaborate in experiments against this backdrop of drone commercialization. Like the designated local governments, subsidies are provided to these entities to encourage business. As a result, looking at the status quo of the domestic UAV landscape highlights how enterprises that utilize drone technology comprise most of the industry. Additionally, a large increase in the number of certified drone controllers for industrial use can be seen.
Consumer drones in South Korea
From a consumer perspective, the relatively recent introduction of camera drones has ignited an interest in them as a consumer electronics product, although it remains a niche market overall. Survey results show that owners mainly use them to fly rather than film, indicating a recreational interest. Nevertheless, this interest could be a positive indicator regarding the possibility of drone sports as a future e-sports event.Future growth of the drone industry in South Korea
The number of registered drones in South Korea has increased exponentially in recent years. As the leading global drone manufacturers are all foreign companies, it is understandable that South Korea imports a significant amount of drones. Considering the current domestic trend, which seems to focus on utilizing them, it remains to be seen whether domestic players will also turn toward the production of UAVs in the future.
