Home to 51.96 million people, South Korea has become renowned for its cultural influence on the world stage. The K-pop industry has emerged as one of the most influential music genres globally. Korean fashion and beauty have transformed global standards in these industries. Additionally, South Korea’s diverse cuisine has sparked food trends worldwide. Now, South Korea is aiming to make its mark in one of the fastest-growing global industries: drone technology.

Currently, the majority of South Korea’s drone industry is focused on companies that develop the hardware required for other drone companies or provide consulting services. About 14% of South Korea’s drone sector consists of companies specializing in engineering drones for specialized tasks. One such company is AMP, which recently gained attention for two of its drone development projects.

From February 23rd to 25th, 2023, AMP showcased its innovations at the Drone Show Korea held at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO). At the show, AMP unveiled four drones, most of which are designed for weather research. The first drone, the WD4-750 weather observation drone, has been collecting data to create 1.5D weather maps from an altitude of 3 km above Russell Glacier in central-western Greenland since 2020. The second drone on display was the WD-KAF local weather observation drone, currently utilized by the Republic of Korea Air Force as the nation’s first high-flying drone for data collection.

Another notable drone was the SMPS fine dust measuring drone system. By employing various vertical flight trajectories, this drone system collects data on fine dust particles in the atmosphere and provides researchers with 3D distribution maps to aid in weather predictions. The final drone exhibited was the AMP-RD-3, a public safety drone designed for residential surveillance. AMP has participated in the BEXCO Drone Show Korea every year since its inauguration in 2022 and is expected to attend the upcoming 2025 show as well.

In June 2024, AMP made headlines once again with the announcement of a pioneering drone program for South Korea. AMP has engineered a drone to meet the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport’s requirements for a delivery vehicle in remote regions. As a peninsula, South Korea is bordered by the Yellow Sea to the west, the Sea of Japan to the east, with its southern tip along the Korea Strait and the East China Sea. The country has over 3,000 islands, 500 of which are inhabited. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport aims to begin delivering items via drones to these remote islands with AMP’s assistance.

The drone delivery program launched on July 19, 2024, serving three island districts of Jeju Island. Initial deliveries included small items such as medications, daily necessities, and food. As the viability of drone deliveries is confirmed, the program will expand. A full-scale launch is scheduled to begin in August 2024, covering 14 municipal jurisdictions. This will include one port, 17 regional parks, and 32 island districts.

AMP will establish drone delivery hubs from which the drones will be dispatched. Customers will also visit their nearest delivery hub to collect packages. Each hub will be equipped with emergency supplies like AEDs, which can be quickly deployed to emergency sites if needed. Initially, AMP’s drones will deliver items with a payload capacity of just over 6 lbs. Customers will also be able to load drones with supplies to be returned to the mainland, such as locally caught fish, a significant source of income for South Korea’s island inhabitants.

Joo Jong-wan from the Ministry’s Civil Aviation Office Department of Aviation Policy stated that they hope to further expand the program in the coming months by increasing the drone’s weight capacity. He noted that there has been interest from large corporations eager to sponsor the program and make their products readily available to South Korea’s remote islands. “The service will raise its maximum weight and diversify items for users,” Mr. Jong-wan said. “It will greatly help island residents. We’ll also further the service’s target areas nationwide.”

As South Korea continues to innovate and expand its influence across various industries, the advancement of drone technology represents a significant leap forward. AMP’s contributions not only showcase the country’s technological prowess but also highlight its commitment to improving logistics and accessibility in remote regions. As the drone delivery program evolves and scales, it holds the potential to set new standards in global drone applications, demonstrating South Korea’s growing role as a leader in technological innovation and its dedication to enhancing quality of life for its citizens.

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