Drone Laws in South Korea

South Korea Drone Regulations

According to South Korea’s national aviation authority, the South Korea Office of Civil Aviation (KOCA), flying a drone is legal in South Korea, but we recommend being aware of and compliant with the drone regulations listed below before doing so.

If you’d like to contact the KOCA directly before you travel with any questions you might have, here is their contact information: fsdiv01@korea.kr / +82 44 201 4251

Why fly a drone in South Korea? To get great aerial shots like these!

General Rules for Flying a Drone in South Korea

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in South Korea.

• Drones for commercial use require registration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. Learn more about registering your drone in South Korea here.
• An operator’s license is required for drones weighing 12 kilograms (26 pounds) or more that will be used for commercial purposes. Learn more about obtaining an operator’s license here.
• Do not fly at night.
• Do not fly where there is low visibility or yellow dust.
• Do not fly beyond your line of sight.
• Do not fly higher than 150 meters (492 feet).
• Do not fly over people or around crowded areas.
• Do not fly within 5.5 kilometers (3.5 miles) of airfields or in areas where aircraft are operating.
• Drones may not be flown near Seoul Plaza, military installations, power plants, or areas of facilities related to national security such as the Blue House.*

*Note: Most of Seoul is designated as prohibited airspace.

For more information on South Korea’s drone laws, see this summary provided by a third party named Shin & Kim.

Know something we don’t about drone laws in South Korea? Send us an email at support@uavcoach.com. We are not international aviation attorneys and do our best to keep this page up-to-date for drone pilots, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how governments are responding, drone regulations in South Korea can change throughout the year, and those changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in South Korea? Here you go: