Table of Contents
- Relaxation of Drone Regulations, More Freedom for Validation
- 3rd Designation of 9 New Local Governments, 20 Additional Zones
- Diversification of Validation Fields Connected to Citizens' Lives
- 32 Local Governments Nationwide, 67 Zones in Operation... Where?
- Regulation Relaxation + Private-led Validation = Acceleration of Drone Industry Innovation
- Conclusion: The Skies are Open, Drones are Changing Daily Life
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Relaxation of Drone Regulations, More Freedom for Validation
Institutional support for the validation and commercialization of the drone industry is being strengthened nationwide.
On July 29, 2025, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the designation of the 3rd drone special free zone, which will expand to 32 local governments and 67 zones. This marks the addition of 20 new zones following the previously designated first (31) and second (18) phases.
The drone special free zone is a system that exempts or simplifies a total of 6 regulations, including flight approval and safety certification, to quickly promote the verification and commercialization of drone technology. Each local government operates the zone based on safety management, allowing private companies to test drone services in real-life situations, not just in laboratory environments. This change is expected to make a significant contribution to the development of the drone industry.
3rd Designation of 9 New Local Governments, 20 Additional Zones
This 3rd designation has expanded to a total of 20 zones, with 9 new local governments added. The existing Gwangju Buk-gu and Jeonnam Goheung-gun also increased their zones by one each.
Regions such as Yangju, Chuncheon, Yeongwol, Dangjin, Gongju, Nonsan, Yeongju, Goseong, and Gangjin have been newly included. In these zones, validation projects in various fields like drone delivery, water quality management, forest fire monitoring, and leisure sports will be actively conducted.
Diversification of Validation Fields Connected to Citizens' Lives
The drone special free zone is conducting validation projects in various fields related to our daily lives to enhance usability. These efforts are expected to bring positive changes to life.
▣ Disaster and Safety Field
Dangjin City is conducting validation projects using drones for detecting and removing wasps.
On the other hand, Gongju City is pushing for validation to deliver defibrillators and medical supplies quickly in case of a disaster.
▣ Environmental and Water Quality Management
Gangjin-gun is continuously monitoring the water quality and algal blooms in rivers.
Nonsan City is closely monitoring illegal fishing and water quality pollution at Tanjeong Lake.
▣ Agriculture, Forestry and Other Fields
Yeongju City is utilizing long-duration drones for smart agriculture validation and forest fire response. Yangju City is testing new logistics methods through drone delivery in parks. Chuncheon City is showcasing innovative technology by developing a digital twin control system alongside drone racing.
These various validation projects create an environment that enables simultaneous technology development and commercialization, contributing to the revitalization of the region-based drone industry ecosystem.
32 Local Governments Nationwide, 67 Zones in Operation... Where?
The drone special free zones have been evenly distributed across the country, including the metropolitan area, Gangwon, Chungcheong, Honam, Yeongnam, and Jeju.
These areas have been designed to allow validation projects in various spatial types such as urban, rural, marine, and forest. Each local government leads validations in collaboration with private companies and research institutions.
| Region | Number of New Zones | Key Validation Details |
| Yangju City | 2 | Establishment of drone delivery hubs, park delivery |
| Chuncheon City | 2 | Racing course, 3D control |
| Yeongwol-gun | 1 | MRO data analysis, safety device development |
| Dangjin City | 3 | Wasp extermination, heavy-duty delivery |
| Gongju City | 1 | Drone delivery for disaster preparedness |
| Nonsan City | 1 | Water quality management, monitoring illegal activities |
| Yeongju City | 4 | Agricultural pest control, forest fire response, long-duration drones |
| Goseong-gun | 1 | Unmanned patrol, hydrogen fuel drone development |
| Gangjin-gun | 3 | Monitoring migratory birds, water quality monitoring |
Regulation Relaxation + Private-led Validation = Acceleration of Drone Industry Innovation
The drone special free zone system operates in a way that the government relaxes regulations and the private sector leads validation and service commercialization.
This 3rd expansion is expected to establish itself as a representative case of a new industry regulatory sandbox. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport promises to continuously improve rigid regulations that hinder validation and ensure more flexible operations.
Additionally, the Ministry of Land and the Korea Aviation Safety Technology Agency plan to enhance on-site inspections and performance evaluations to ensure that drone validation is conducted safely and effectively.
Conclusion: The Skies are Open, Drones are Changing Daily Life
The nationwide expansion of drone special free zones is the first step in bringing significant changes to our daily lives beyond simple technology experiments.
Practical uses in various fields such as delivery services utilizing drones, environmental monitoring, forest fire responses, and leisure activities will become possible. This relaxation of regulations can provide not only industrial development but also direct benefits to citizens.
We look forward to the further spread of drone technology in more cities and life areas.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the drone special free zone?
The drone special free zone is a regulatory exemption area that facilitates drone validation and commercialization.
The drone special free zone is an area designated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, where 6 major regulations, such as drone flight approval and safety certification, are exempted or simplified. This provides private companies with opportunities to validate drone services in actual living spaces, rather than just in laboratories. Local governments operate the zones based on safety management, and it is a system that accelerates the development of the drone industry.
Q. What changes are there in the 3rd drone special free zone?
The 3rd designation expanded to 32 local governments across the country with 67 zones, and 20 new zones were added.
On July 29, 2025, the Ministry of Land designated the 3rd drone special free zone, adding 20 new zones to the existing 1st and 2nd zones. The new local governments include Yangju, Chuncheon, Yeongwol, Dangjin, Gongju, Nonsan, Yeongju, Goseong, and Gangjin. Gwangju Buk-gu and Jeonnam Goheung-gun also increased the number of their zones. This sets the stage for a wider variety of drone validation and commercialization projects across the country.
Q. What validation fields are being pursued in the drone special free zone?
Diverse fields such as disaster and safety, environmental and water quality management, agriculture and forestry, logistics delivery, and leisure.
Specifically, Dangjin City is validating wasp detection and removal, while Gongju City is validating the delivery of medical supplies like defibrillators during disasters. Gangjin-gun is monitoring river water quality and algal blooms, and Nonsan City is focusing on illegal fishing and water quality pollution monitoring. Additionally, Yeongju City is working on smart agriculture and forest fire response, Yangju City is testing drone delivery within parks, and Chuncheon City is developing a digital twin control system alongside drone racing, contributing to revitalizing the industrial ecosystem.
Q. Where are the drone special free zones located nationwide?
They are evenly distributed across 32 regions nationwide, including the metropolitan area, Gangwon, Chungcheong, Honam, Yeongnam, and Jeju.
These zones are designed to suit various spatial types such as urban, rural, marine, and forest, with each local government leading validation projects in collaboration with private companies and research institutions. This allows for drone utilization that fits regional characteristics, contributing to balanced development of the drone industry and technological innovations nationwide.
Q. What impact does the expansion of drone special free zones have on the drone industry?
Regulation relaxation and private-led validation will accelerate innovation in the drone industry.
This will be operated in a way that supports improving rigid regulations and allowing the private sector to lead validation and commercialization of services. The 3rd expansion is set to establish itself as an example of a new industry regulatory sandbox, with the Ministry of Land and the Korea Aviation Safety Technology Agency strengthening safety and performance management. This lays the foundation for simultaneous technology development and commercialization, fostering widespread dissemination of drone technology in cities and everyday life, resulting in positive changes for citizens.
