First Public Display of Domestic UAM in South Korea

The largest future aviation mobility exhibition in South Korea has opened, showcasing the current and future state of drones and Urban Air Mobility (UAM). This year marks the sixth edition of the 'Korea Drone & UAM Exhibition,' where a UAM aircraft developed by a domestic company was publicly unveiled for the first time. The event also presented concrete plans for initial commercialization, pilot training, and vertiport construction to make 'sky routes' a reality.

The 2026 Korea Drone & UAM Exhibition kicked off on July 15 at the Songdo Convensia in Incheon, featuring a UAM aircraft developed by the Sambo Motors Group. However, the 'K-UAM Flight Showcase' scheduled to take place at Incheon University’s INU Innovation Center was postponed to July 16 due to weather and radio environment conditions.

Kim Yoon-deok, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated at the showcase, "Today marks the first public appearance of a UAM made with our technology," adding, "It is a moment that makes us realize that the future, which once felt distant, is now approaching us rapidly." He emphasized that UAM could be utilized in various fields, including transportation and tourism in island regions, and pledged that the private sector, military, and government would work together to advance specific projects.

Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae highlighted that Incheon, with its world-class airport and port and 192 islands, is the most suitable city for testing drones and UAM. He stated, "Starting with the island regions, we will establish an Incheon-style UAM living zone connecting the old city and new towns, and we will accelerate the development of infrastructure such as vertiports."

Although the public flight was delayed by a day, attendees at the Songdo Convensia could see the groundwork for UAM commercialization prepared by companies at the forefront of technology demonstration, along with central and local governments.

The 'Korea Drone & UAM Exhibition' serves as a leading professional exhibition where the government, local governments, companies, and research institutions share the technological level, policy direction, and commercialization potential of the drone and future aviation mobility industries. This year, over 130 companies and institutions participated under the theme 'Drones & UAM: Changing Daily Life and Shaping the Future.' The exhibition featured displays of aircraft, vertiports, and control and communication systems, as well as policy conferences, business consultations, job fairs, and drone light shows, encompassing various programs for industry and public experience.

Upon entering the exhibition hall, attendees were drawn to various UAM and drone aircraft, as well as the infrastructure and operational systems necessary to implement them as actual transportation means. The 'UAM Pavilion' showcased models of vertiports and UAM aircraft, an operational management system, and flight simulators, all designed with a view toward commercialization by 2030.

Each booth presented not only aircraft but also technologies essential for commercialization, such as digital twins, operational management, and control systems. Hyundai Elevator showcased a vertical vertiport (H-PORT) system designed for installation in urban buildings, along with aircraft transport equipment, while Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) introduced a dual-use 'Future Advanced Aircraft (AAV)' platform.

The Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology (KIAST), a key organization in the drone sector, presented its achievements in developing five specialized drone platforms for public sectors such as firefighting, aviation safety, logistics, agriculture, and facility management through its drone commercialization support project. They also unveiled actual business outcomes, including an AI swarm drone system, high-capacity firefighting drones, domestically produced 30L agricultural drones, and AI solutions for facility inspections, outlining a roadmap for technological independence and commercialization in the domestic drone industry.

The government also unveiled execution strategies for the commercialization of UAM and drones, moving beyond mere technology exhibitions.

Kim Gi-hoon, head of the Urban Air Mobility Policy Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "We have moved from explaining what UAM is to asking when we can use it," emphasizing that the key word in government policy is 'feasibility.' He expressed determination to achieve initial commercialization, noting that the postponement of the flight demonstration is part of the process toward success.

The government plans to prioritize initial commercialization models, including tourism, airport connection, and regional connection services, before expanding to urban services. Initial models include routes connecting Incheon Airport to tourist destinations and regional routes linking island areas that heavily rely on passenger ferries. In Incheon, a plan to connect Incheon Airport with Deokjeokdo Island was mentioned as a case study. Initial operations will allow aircraft with pilots onboard during daytime and under favorable weather conditions, utilizing the existing air traffic control system as much as possible.

The government is also accelerating the establishment of a foundation for commercialization. Next year, it will launch the 'First UAM Pilot Selection Project' to support training for selected individuals with overseas aircraft manufacturers and operators, with plans to utilize them as instructors in the future. Additionally, a call for pilot operation zones will be conducted in the second half of this year, and the government is considering supporting the initial vertiport construction in selected local governments.

In the drone sector, an AI-based industry development strategy was also announced. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to accumulate drone mission data by sector to develop specialized AI models for drones and establish a national AI drone training center to provide demonstration environments for both civilian and defense sectors. Furthermore, it will mandate the installation of drone identification devices by 2028 and establish a national integrated flight information management system by 2030 to create a drone traffic management system. Improvements to the approval system for nighttime and beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights and the expansion of special drone liberalization zones are also being pursued.

Throughout the event, anticipation from the government, industry, and local governments was palpable. Lee Min-seok, a science creator known as 'Geekble,' emphasized in his keynote speech, "Technology does not start perfectly; challenges and failures accumulate to ultimately change the world. UAM will follow the same path."

Mayor Park Chan-dae also remarked in his welcoming address at the opening ceremony, "This exhibition is not just a technology showcase but an innovative space where we can meet what will soon become part of our daily lives. I hope everyone can fully experience the new future here in Incheon."