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Drone Laws in South Korea

Summary of Drone Laws in South Korea

Hobbyist Drone Laws For Residents of South Korea

Drone Operations in South Korea are currently regulated.


  • Hobbyist drone flights are allowed in South Korea
  • Hobbyist South Korea drone pilot license is not required
  • Hobbyist Drone registration is required in South Korea for hobbyists flying over 250g drone
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in South Korea for hobbyists
  • Drone Insurance is not required but recommended for hobbyists’ drone operations in South Korea

Read below for more details on Hobbyist Drone Laws in South Korea and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Commercial Drone Laws For Residents of South Korea

Drone Operations in South Korea are currently regulated.


  • Commercial drone flights are allowed in South Korea
  • Commercial South Korea drone pilot license is required
  • Commercial Drone registration is required in South Korea for commercial drone operators
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in South Korea for Commercial Drone Operators
  • Drone Insurance is required for commercial drone operations in South Korea

Read below for more details on Commercial Drone Laws in South Korea and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Drone Regulations For Visitors To South Korea

Drone Operations in South Korea are currently regulated.


  • Foreign visitor drone flights are allowed in South Korea
  • Foreign visitor drone pilot license is not required
  • Drone registration is required in South Korea for visitors/tourists
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in South Korea for tourists
  • Drone Insurance is not required but recommended for tourist drone operations in South Korea

Read below for more details on Drone Laws in South Korea for Visitors (Tourists) and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Drone Rules For Government Drone Operators in South Korea

Drone Operations in South Korea are currently regulated.


  • Government drone flights are allowed in South Korea
  • Government drone pilot license is required
  • Drone registration is required in South Korea for Government operations
  • Drone Remote ID is not required in South Korea for Government operations
  • Drone Insurance is not required for Government drone operations in South Korea

Read below for more details on Drone Laws in South Korea for Government Drone Operations and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!

Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Republic of Korea (South Korea)

Drone Regulator in South Korea: South Korea Office of Civil Aviation (KOCA)

Dedicated Website for Drone Information: MOCA Dedicated Complaints Drone Website (Korean Language)


UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in South Korea

The South Korean agency responsible for drone safety, KOCA, has provided several details on flying for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details, go to the link above.

Are drones allowed in South Korea?

According to the KOCA, flying drones is legal in South Korea, but specific regulations must be strictly followed. Read on for more details.

Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in South Korea:

  • You are not permitted to fly higher than 150 meters (492 feet) 
  • You are not allowed to fly within 5.5 kilometers of airports or in areas where aircraft are operating. 
  • You must fly during daylight hours and only in favorable weather. 
  • Avoid flying over people or crowds and respect others’ privacy when flying your drone. 
  • You cannot fly when poor visibility or yellow dust is present. 
  • Never fly your drone beyond visual range. 
  • You are not permitted to fly near Seoul Plaza, military installations, government facilities, power plants, or areas of national security facilities.
  • Aerial photography using an unmanned aerial vehicle is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defense and requires prior permission for aerial photography.

The regulations specifically answer the question: What rules must the pilot observe?

The Aviation Safety Act stipulates safety rules that all pilots must follow, even for simple hobby drones (unmanned aerial vehicles), and the pilots must follow them.
Pilot compliance applies to anyone operating an unmanned aerial vehicle, regardless of the weight or purpose of the vehicle. Violation of the pilot’s regulations may result in a fine of up to 2 million won in accordance with the Aviation Safety Act.

  • Observances of the pilot (Article 129 of the Aviation Safety Act, Article 310 of the Enforcement Rules) △ No-fly time zone: Night flight (* Night: after sunset to before sunrise) △ No-fly places
    (1) within a radius of 9.3 km from the aerodrome
    → There is a risk of collision with aircraft taking off and landing in
    the “control area.”
    (2) No-fly zone (near the demarcation line, part of the sky above downtown Seoul)
    → Places where flying is prohibited for national defense and security reasons
    (3) Altitude above 150m
    → Airspace, where aircraft flight routes are installed
    (4) Over a densely populated area or a place where a lot of people gather (* Ex: a place where a lot of people gather, such as a sports stadium, various festivals, etc.)
    → If the aircraft falls, there is a high risk of personal injury ※. Suppose you want to fly in a no-fly area. In that case, you need permission from the local Aviation Administration or Ministry of National Defense (if there is no problem after reviewing the safety issues in the relevant airspace). Prohibited actions while flying
  • Prohibition of dropping objects that may endanger life or property, prohibition of flying in a manner that may endanger life or property in densely populated areas such as residential and commercial areas or other crowded places, Prohibition of flying close in a way that may collide with buildings, Prohibition of flying while the driver is intoxicated
    → There is a high risk of damage to people and property if the aircraft collides
  • Do not fly when the pilot cannot see the device directly with the naked eye (* For example, when the visibility is poor due to fog, yellow sand, etc., or when flying far to a place where the eyes cannot directly see) △ Protection of personal information
  • In the case of collecting or transmitting information related to an individual’s public/private life using an unmanned aerial vehicle, if the freedom and rights of others are violated, you may be punished according to relevant laws such as the Personal Information Protection Act.

Do I need permission to take a picture with a drone in South Korea?

YES. The airline photography permit is the Minister of Defense and is in charge of the Security and Security Policy Division of the Defense Information Headquarters. If you apply for permission for aerial photography by the Ministry of National Defense through the drone one-stop complaint service (https://drone.onestop.go.kr) before four days (working days), we will review the purpose of the shooting and whether it is a safety-critical and then allow it.
☞Go to the contact information of the Airline Filming License Responsibility Unit.

I want to use drones as a hobby, but isn’t there any space to fly freely?

A total of 29 “ultra-light aircraft flight zones” are set up in various parts of the country, including Sihwa and Yangpyeong, and you can fly freely without approval. In addition, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is promoting the expansion of drone parks nationwide* as metropolitan areas with high demand for drone flights are subject to flight restrictions and control rights.
* Gwangnaru along the Han River, Wang Sookcheon, Shinjeonggyo, Daejeon Geumgang Beach, Yeongsan River in Buk-gu, Gwangju

Registration Requirements for Drone Flying in South Korea?

Any drone that weighs more than 250 grams must be registered. 

Drones weighing less than 2 kilograms but more than 250 grams must also complete a mandatory online course. 

Operators of drones weighing between 2 and 7 kilograms must pass a written examination and have six hours of drone experience. 

For weights greater than 25 kilograms, you must have over 20 hours of flight experience and pass several other tests.

Compulsory insurance

If you are required to register your drone in South Korea, you must purchase drone insurance with a minimum coverage amount of KRW 150,000,000.


Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in South Korea

Private drone flying is permitted in South Korea, but only under the conditions outlined below. 

Permission is not necessary. 

Maximum Height Maximum 150m / 492ft > 150m / 492ft requires permission 

There is no maximum distance, but the aircraft must always remain within the operator’s line of sight unless approval for a beyond-line-of-sight flight has been granted. 

There is no upper limit on take-off weight. 

Unless prior approval has been granted, operations must be conducted during the day. 

There are no labeling requirements. 

While liability insurance for drones is not required, it is strongly recommended.

Follow the general rules listed above, but check for updates by visiting the regulator’s links provided.


Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in South Korea

Commercial drone flight is permitted in South Korea, but you must adhere to the below rules. 

Permission is required from the South Korean Aviation Authority. 

When using the unmanned powered flying device for commercial purposes, an application for business registration is required.

Maximum Height Maximum 150m / 492ft > 150m / 492ft requires permission

There is no maximum distance, but the aircraft must always remain within the operator’s line of sight unless approval for a beyond-line-of-sight flight has been granted. 

There is no upper limit on take-off weight. 

Permission must be obtained from the South Korean Aviation Authority. 

Unless prior approval has been granted, operations must be conducted during the day. 

There are no labeling requirements. While liability insurance for drones is not required, it is strongly recommended.

Authorization and licensing are complex processes. Please check with the KOCA directly for specifics.


Useful published information on flying drones in South Korea

Here is a sample of what you might expect if you follow the drone laws and fly in South Korea…


Authoritative Sources of Information on South Korea Drone Laws

We will attempt to keep an updated list of online authoritative links to regulators and other official websites here:



NOTE: This page is about the Regulation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS), Small UAS, Remote Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), and drone are interchangeable terms unless specified. Model Aircraft, toy, remote-controlled, and RC aircraft may be covered by the same regulations unless specified.


Find out why

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And a Drone Post-flight checklist

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It includes both the preflight checklist and post-flight checklist

It’s an easy-to-use printable PDF that covers all your bases.


Traveling with a Drone?

Click here to read our Comprehensive Guide For Traveling With A Drone.



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31 responses to “Drone Laws in South Korea”

  1. andy

    foreigners(travelers to korea) : Korean mobile sim card

    if you are not registered foreigner in korea, you can not certify yourself when you join a korean website(such as onestop service for drone) ,
    so coming to korea as a traveller buy a sim card, trying to join drone.onestop.go.kr
    it’s not possible.

    I don’t know if there’s any other way.

    If you have a korean friend, you may ask your friend to add you and your drone when your friend apply for drone flight and shooting permission, adding you as a secondary or co-pilot.

  2. andy

    about license and registration in korea:
    no need drone registration if you fly for hobby (dji drones: mavic mini air phantom )
    below 250grams: no need certificate(license)
    250gram-2kg: needs #4 license (on line training and test)
    2-7kg: needs #3 (pass official test and needs 6 hours flight record at designated institution )

  3. Andy

    I have some enquiry from some foreigners on the drone flight and shooting in Korea recently.
    1) you can fly at the area except the limited or prohibited area, if you can get permission, yes you can fly depending on the places (needs 3 working days normally for permit)
    2) if there’s no national or military facilities if 100% sure, you can shoot except national park, heritage sites, private places, and some special sites. but as you can not tell what is there at some specific places, that’s why you need to apply for shooting permit, just to be on safe side
    (needs 4 working days normally for permit)
    3) shooting and flight permit is separated, you need to check both
    4) the problem is that if you have no korean mobile you can not join the site, drone.onestop.go.kr where you can apply for the flight and shooting
    5) night flight needs special permit which takes about 30 working days
    6) if you have korean friend, you may ask your friend to apply the permit and add your name to the pilot lists or if you have enough time in korea, you need to buy a korean sim card and join the site and apply for permit
    7) no need to register your drones (mavic, mini, air ) in korea if you are just a hobbyist droner
    8) no insurance needed if you fly just for hobbyist
    9) commercial flight and shooting is basically not allowed to the foreigners / company.
    (needs a lot conditions to do the commercial drone shooting)
    10) height: 150mt

    drone.onestop.go.kr is the official site for drone flight and shooting permit.

    conclusion)
    the best way is fly your drones with your korean friend (if you fly and shoot legally).
    commercial shooting: find a korean company with registration and ask them to fly and shoot. (if fly and shoot without registration, you will be fined about U$23,000 or one year in prison.

    other queries if you have, email me flydrones73@gmail.com
    (i have abt 7 years drone experience and i am the registered company for commercial drone biz, doing 100% legal way)

  4. akeem

    HI, I’m travelling to korea soon… and planning to bring my drone. But was looking thru Koca, and don’t seem to find the link/site for registration/etc for drone related… any advise.

    1. Editorial Team

      Please try https://drone.onestop.go.kr/member/join/register (you will have to get it translated from Korean)

  5. Andy Ahn

    i’m Korean, and it’s a bit complicated here in korea, if you are flying drones.
    over 250gram, you need to get drone license (cat4,3,2,1 depending on the weight)

    you need to get permission for flying and shooting separately, depending on the area.

    night flight is not allowed except with some special permission which needs 30 working days.

    if you need some help, you may email me. flydrones73@gmail.com

  6. Pathum

    Hello.. Can i bring a light weight drone to korea from foreign country? Does it permission? (weight of the drone 249g)

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      You can bring a drone to South Korea. You must declare it upon arrival. Please note that the areas one can fly without authorization are limited (see above). Follow the rules and contact the regulator when uncertain.

  7. Brian

    For Mavic Mini (drone under 250g), you don’t need any license to “fly” it. However, you need media registration to take any photo or video. And media regiatration can be obtain at this website (https://drone.onestop.go.kr/). However, the problem is that it is impossible to register your self at this website as foreigner without a phone number assigned to yourself. So if you are visiting Korea and want to capture some footage with your drone, it may be possible to fly it but impossible to take photo or video legally.
    I talked to the agent (public officer works at this department) and they have no plan to change this for now.

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      Thank you for sharing

  8. Jeric

    How to get license for rc plane?

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      Sorry we do not cover RCs on this website.

      1. Jeric

        How to get license for drone here in South Korea?

        1. Merlin at Drone Laws

          We are not aware of a license required to fly drones in South Korea. You may have to register your drone, if so please follow the links/information provided above.

  9. Mathias

    I have to say that almost everything in this article is wrong and I got in trouble in South Korea. Basically all cities are completely off limit and you are not allowed to fly drones there. There is a 2000 USD fine. Everything is with CCTV and if you start your drone, the police will be there immediately. I got in trouble and I was very unhappy because I did my research.

    You should update your page!

    Seoul and metropolitan area, including and north to the Han River and near to the airports at Gimpo and Seongnam, are strictly off-limit areas subject to the permission of the Capital Defense Command (CDC, 수도방위사령부) or the nearby airport authorities.

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      Mathias, we always recommend contacting the regulators for the most recent information. We have updated the regulations above to the latest provided by the regulators.

  10. Han

    As I can see many foreign people are flying their drones in Seoul without any permission and are being investigated by the police and military these days, people MUST know that 99% of Seoul are no-fly zone even though the map suggests it’s not. They MUST first obtain permission from CDC(Capital Defense Command) on the drone.onestop.go.kr.

  11. Francis L.

    I live at the edge of a 비행승인 필요 area. Can you receive long-term permission for restricted areas at drone.onestop.go.kr/? For instance, can I get permission to fly in the woods near my house for 6 months or do I have to request permission each time, 15 days in advance?

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      Please contact KOCA and let us know what you find out.

  12. Trevor

    Hey!

    Do you think that permission to fly drones weighing more that 250grams and less than 2kg are hard to get or it’s just formality?

    Great guide!

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      Trevor, KOCA has been relatively easy to work with historically.

  13. MARK JOMEL SAN JUAN RUGA

    Can I bring my mavic mini 2 in the airport?i only drop by because i work on a ship. But don’t worry my drone is inside my luggage.its that okay to bring? thanks

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      Mark, you should be allowed to take your drone. Declare it properly on arrival and explain what you are doing

  14. baccam

    I have a DJI mavic mini, no need to be registred, right?
    Did you have a map website or app to know where we can use our drone ?
    thank you

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      If the DJI Mavic Mini is under 250 grams it will not need to be registered.
      We recommend you contact KOCA for information on approved areas.

  15. mian jawad

    i have just bought my first fpv drone named firefly baby quad 1.6 which is microdrone. it is less than 250 grams with the insta360 camera. do i have to register it and is there any limit of frequency to fly fpv.

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      Less than 250 grams are not required to be registered. We are not aware of any FPV restrictions. We recommend contacting the regulator to be sure

  16. Ryan Daggett

    I need to register my drone because it’s more than 250 grams. Where do I go to do this?

    1. Merlin at Drone Laws

      Ryan, you can contact KOCA at fsdiv01@korea.kr / +82 44 201 4251
      If you can translate Korean you can use the following link as a starting point: https://drone.onestop.go.kr

      1. james

        ive emailed them twice now with no response. how long does this process normally take?

        1. Merlin at Drone Laws

          James, we suggest you try calling or using another method to contact the regulator. Only they can answer your question

Leave a Comment

31 thoughts on “Drone Laws in South Korea”

  1. foreigners(travelers to korea) : Korean mobile sim card

    if you are not registered foreigner in korea, you can not certify yourself when you join a korean website(such as onestop service for drone) ,
    so coming to korea as a traveller buy a sim card, trying to join drone.onestop.go.kr
    it’s not possible.

    I don’t know if there’s any other way.

    If you have a korean friend, you may ask your friend to add you and your drone when your friend apply for drone flight and shooting permission, adding you as a secondary or co-pilot.

    Reply
  2. about license and registration in korea:
    no need drone registration if you fly for hobby (dji drones: mavic mini air phantom )
    below 250grams: no need certificate(license)
    250gram-2kg: needs #4 license (on line training and test)
    2-7kg: needs #3 (pass official test and needs 6 hours flight record at designated institution )

    Reply
  3. I have some enquiry from some foreigners on the drone flight and shooting in Korea recently.
    1) you can fly at the area except the limited or prohibited area, if you can get permission, yes you can fly depending on the places (needs 3 working days normally for permit)
    2) if there’s no national or military facilities if 100% sure, you can shoot except national park, heritage sites, private places, and some special sites. but as you can not tell what is there at some specific places, that’s why you need to apply for shooting permit, just to be on safe side
    (needs 4 working days normally for permit)
    3) shooting and flight permit is separated, you need to check both
    4) the problem is that if you have no korean mobile you can not join the site, drone.onestop.go.kr where you can apply for the flight and shooting
    5) night flight needs special permit which takes about 30 working days
    6) if you have korean friend, you may ask your friend to apply the permit and add your name to the pilot lists or if you have enough time in korea, you need to buy a korean sim card and join the site and apply for permit
    7) no need to register your drones (mavic, mini, air ) in korea if you are just a hobbyist droner
    8) no insurance needed if you fly just for hobbyist
    9) commercial flight and shooting is basically not allowed to the foreigners / company.
    (needs a lot conditions to do the commercial drone shooting)
    10) height: 150mt

    drone.onestop.go.kr is the official site for drone flight and shooting permit.

    conclusion)
    the best way is fly your drones with your korean friend (if you fly and shoot legally).
    commercial shooting: find a korean company with registration and ask them to fly and shoot. (if fly and shoot without registration, you will be fined about U$23,000 or one year in prison.

    other queries if you have, email me flydrones73@gmail.com
    (i have abt 7 years drone experience and i am the registered company for commercial drone biz, doing 100% legal way)

    Reply
  4. HI, I’m travelling to korea soon… and planning to bring my drone. But was looking thru Koca, and don’t seem to find the link/site for registration/etc for drone related… any advise.

    Reply
  5. i’m Korean, and it’s a bit complicated here in korea, if you are flying drones.
    over 250gram, you need to get drone license (cat4,3,2,1 depending on the weight)

    you need to get permission for flying and shooting separately, depending on the area.

    night flight is not allowed except with some special permission which needs 30 working days.

    if you need some help, you may email me. flydrones73@gmail.com

    Reply
    • You can bring a drone to South Korea. You must declare it upon arrival. Please note that the areas one can fly without authorization are limited (see above). Follow the rules and contact the regulator when uncertain.

      Reply
  6. For Mavic Mini (drone under 250g), you don’t need any license to “fly” it. However, you need media registration to take any photo or video. And media regiatration can be obtain at this website (https://drone.onestop.go.kr/). However, the problem is that it is impossible to register your self at this website as foreigner without a phone number assigned to yourself. So if you are visiting Korea and want to capture some footage with your drone, it may be possible to fly it but impossible to take photo or video legally.
    I talked to the agent (public officer works at this department) and they have no plan to change this for now.

    Reply
  7. I have to say that almost everything in this article is wrong and I got in trouble in South Korea. Basically all cities are completely off limit and you are not allowed to fly drones there. There is a 2000 USD fine. Everything is with CCTV and if you start your drone, the police will be there immediately. I got in trouble and I was very unhappy because I did my research.

    You should update your page!

    Seoul and metropolitan area, including and north to the Han River and near to the airports at Gimpo and Seongnam, are strictly off-limit areas subject to the permission of the Capital Defense Command (CDC, 수도방위사령부) or the nearby airport authorities.

    Reply
    • Mathias, we always recommend contacting the regulators for the most recent information. We have updated the regulations above to the latest provided by the regulators.

      Reply
  8. As I can see many foreign people are flying their drones in Seoul without any permission and are being investigated by the police and military these days, people MUST know that 99% of Seoul are no-fly zone even though the map suggests it’s not. They MUST first obtain permission from CDC(Capital Defense Command) on the drone.onestop.go.kr.

    Reply
  9. I live at the edge of a 비행승인 필요 area. Can you receive long-term permission for restricted areas at drone.onestop.go.kr/? For instance, can I get permission to fly in the woods near my house for 6 months or do I have to request permission each time, 15 days in advance?

    Reply
  10. Hey!

    Do you think that permission to fly drones weighing more that 250grams and less than 2kg are hard to get or it’s just formality?

    Great guide!

    Reply
  11. Can I bring my mavic mini 2 in the airport?i only drop by because i work on a ship. But don’t worry my drone is inside my luggage.its that okay to bring? thanks

    Reply
    • Mark, you should be allowed to take your drone. Declare it properly on arrival and explain what you are doing

      Reply
  12. I have a DJI mavic mini, no need to be registred, right?
    Did you have a map website or app to know where we can use our drone ?
    thank you

    Reply
    • If the DJI Mavic Mini is under 250 grams it will not need to be registered.
      We recommend you contact KOCA for information on approved areas.

      Reply
  13. i have just bought my first fpv drone named firefly baby quad 1.6 which is microdrone. it is less than 250 grams with the insta360 camera. do i have to register it and is there any limit of frequency to fly fpv.

    Reply
    • Less than 250 grams are not required to be registered. We are not aware of any FPV restrictions. We recommend contacting the regulator to be sure

      Reply

Leave a Comment