Drone tour to Baengnokdam Crater Lake to be launched

[Smart City Today]

It seems that an era where you can go on a tour from downtown Jeju to Baengnokdam Crater Lake on Halla Mountain by drone will be opened.

The era of drone tourism carrying tourists over Jeju Island will be opened. According to a KBS report, a flying car that was only seen in movies will be realized soon. Jeju Province plans to operate a tourist drone with people on board in three years, starting in 2025.

By a small plane, it only takes 30 minutes from Chuja Island to Jeju Island which takes 2 hours by ship.

Jeju Province and the Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC) recently introduced urban air transportation (UAM) and pilot flights using drones along with Kencoa Aerospace. The drone can deliver urgent documents or relief goods up to 3kg to attached islands with limited access.

A drone aircraft that people can ride was also presented. It rises vertically and flies in the sky. It can fly up to 80 kilometers per hour using electric batteries as propulsion power. One adult can ride an aircraft and freight up to 100 kg can be loaded. It can take off and land on the ground as well as on the water.

The drone maker is currently developing a two-seater aircraft and is also preparing a tourist taxi.

Jung Chan-young, director of Kencoa Aerospace, explained, "For the first time in Korea, we designed the western route connecting Aewol, Chagwi Island, and Moseulpo Port after taking off from Jeju International Airport.” Jeju Province, which aims to commercialize UAM in three years, will launch tourism services to Baengnokdam Crater Lake on Hallasan Mountain and create various models through cooperation with different private companies.

Park Chan-hyuk, head of the Jeju Smart City and Drone Team, said, "We can specialize in tourism-type models or logistics services," adding, "We will promote the project by dividing the models into emergency purpose ones and various public service purpose ones."

While the enactment of related laws has remained a task, it is expected that the drone tour will be available in Jeju in three years.