Even at major exhibitions like the World IT Show and the K Drone Summit, hobby drones are by far the most popular. Even among the many industrial drones, hobby drones attract the most attention, with events like "drone battles," "drone racing," and "drone soccer."

This interest in hobby drones continued at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Drone Industry Development Basic Plan public hearing, which focused on industrial drones, and the 2017 Republic of Korea Drone Policy Forum.

Kim, who runs a hobby/leisure drone club, said, "At the last public hearing, I suggested that hobby/leisure drones be considered. However, at the policy forum, only hobby/leisure drones were excluded." He expressed curiosity about why the mid- to long-term plan for the domestic drone industry is so unilaterally focused on industrial use.

Initially developed for military use, drones are now expanding beyond the civilian market for hobbyists and photography to include safety diagnostics, surveillance/surveying, and material transport. The domestic market is also seeing a rise in civilian demand, particularly for photography and agriculture.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has set mid- to long-term goals: reaching a market size of 4.1 trillion won by 2026, achieving a global ranking of 5th in technological competitiveness, and commercializing 60,000 industrial drones. To achieve this, the ministry plans to increase R&D investment to 1 trillion won and create public demand by introducing drones into government and public institutions. The Aviation Safety Act amendment, which allows drone flights even in non-visible areas, has also been passed, so from November, nighttime and beyond-visible flights will be possible upon request.

Even advanced drone nations view the commercial drone market as an untapped market. Icelandic shopping mall AHA has commercialized a drone delivery system, and Amazon is also preparing for drone delivery. Facebook plans to use drones for internet access.

However, government officials had a different view. A Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport official explained, "China dominates the global small drone market, and we're not falling behind in terms of technology. We're just lacking in price competitiveness." He added, "Advanced countries already dominate the hobby drone market, so even if we start now, we'll only be second."

Forum participants had differing opinions. An anonymous participant stated, "Many people, regardless of gender or age, are interested in drones. The industry will grow only when this interest continues and they become more popular. Gaming, while initially met with resistance, has become established as an e-sports sport. Drones should follow the same path." He added, "The government should host competitions or immediately expand the number of places where drones can be flown. Then, wouldn't popularization naturally follow?"

There are many examples of drone powerhouses that started out as hobby drones and then successfully popularized them. A prime example is China's DJI, which dominates the global drone market with a 70% share, which started out as a toy drone. It began with a low-cost model, emphasizing accessibility, simplicity, and convenience for consumers. DJI has also grown its technological prowess, releasing new products almost every six months. DJI has also expanded into commercial sectors, including agriculture, search and rescue, wildlife monitoring, surveying, and robotic drones. DJI envisions a "one-person, one-drone" era, where drones will become a necessity, much like smartphones.

A Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport official stated, "Whether hobby drones align with government policy is a strategic decision," and added that the government is considering whether to extend support to the private sector. He continued, "The message of expanding the R&D budget carries significant meaning. We are open to other sectors, beyond commercial use." This means that support is possible if hobbyist drones are not restricted.

As the government prepares for the next decade of the drone industry, it is time to clearly outline policies for what can be done for hobbyist drones to commercialize and popularize drones.