If you fly a drone without knowing that it is a no-fly zone, you may be subject to a fine of up to 3 million won, so caution is advised.

The Korea Transportation Safety Authority (CEO Kwon Yong-bok, hereinafter referred to as TS) announced on the 7th that as the number of people flying drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) in Korea is rapidly increasing, it will provide useful tips when flying drones, such as how to apply for online training, how to report the aircraft, and precautions when flying.

According to TS, the number of domestically registered drones has increased more than 13-fold from 4,003 in 2017 to 52,387 in 2023, and the number of people with Class 1 to 3 drone pilot licenses has also increased approximately 21-fold from 5,949 in 2017 to 127,813 as of the end of 2023.

Accordingly, cases of fines being imposed for violating drone flight-related laws are also increasing, so caution is required.

First, if the maximum takeoff weight of the drone exceeds 250g, you must first complete the four types of online training provided by TS.

Additionally, if the maximum takeoff weight of the drone exceeds 2 kg, you must report the aircraft on the Drone One-Stop website.

If you are wondering whether a place is open for flight, you should search the map provided on the Drone One Stop website to check whether the place requires flight approval.

TS provides aircraft reporting services through the Drone One Stop (drone.onestop.go.kr) and the TS Korea Transportation Safety Authority Learning Center (edu.kotsa.or.k).We are carrying out four types of online education work through r).

The 'Ultralight Aircraft Reporting System' is a system that requires owners of ultralight aircraft, including drones, to report to the relevant authorities before using the device to ensure safe air traffic. In the case of non-commercial use (non-profit purposes), if the maximum takeoff weight exceeds 2 kg, it is subject to reporting, and in the case of commercial use (profit purposes), all aircraft are subject to reporting regardless of weight.

If you have purchased a drone and completed the aircraft registration, you must obtain a drone pilot license according to the aircraft weight.

If the maximum takeoff weight is 250g or less, no separate pilot qualification is required, but if it exceeds 250g, separate training or qualification training is required for Class 4 to Class 1 depending on the weight.

For Type 4 drones (maximum takeoff weight of 250g or more but less than 2kg), you can receive a certificate of completion after completing online training through the Korea Transportation Safety Authority Learning Center (edu.kotsa.or.kr).

In addition, if the maximum takeoff weight of the drone exceeds 2 kg, you can receive pilot training and take a test to obtain a license from a specialized drone training institute designated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport or a private training institute registered as an ultra-light aircraft operator.

If you have acquired a pilot's license, you must check whether the area is a drone flight zone before flying the drone.

Please note that you cannot fly drones in restricted flight areas such as no-fly zones in Seoul, near the Military Demarcation Line, and around nuclear power plants, as well as airport control zones (within a 9.3km radius around the airport) without receiving approval from the competent authority through Drone One Stop (drone.onestop.go.kr).

If you fly a drone without knowing this and are caught, you will be fined a minimum of 1.5 million won and a maximum of 3 million won according to the law.


In addition to these safety measures, the government is also operating drone parks in metropolitan areas with high demand for flights, such as Seoul, to encourage the use of drones by the public.

In particular, 43 areas across the country have been designated as ultralight aircraft flight areas (UA) that can be used without flight approval at altitudes below 150m during the day. For more detailed information on drone flights, refer to the 'Drones in Everyday Life' published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. You can check it through the ‘Operation Guidelines’.

TS CEO Kwon Yong-bok said, “To ensure safe drone flights in everyday life, all citizens need to develop the habit of checking once more through Drone One Stop (drone.onestop.go.kr) before flying.” He added, “TS will continue to systematically manage drone safety in the future.” He said, “We will contribute to the development of the drone industry through reinforcement.”