Maximum drone altitude in South Korea

What the rules say

Each line is resolved from published facts of South Korea. "Not resolved" means the corpus does not answer it in a machine-checkable way — never that the law is silent.

• General height limit150 mConditional
• Reference datumAGLYes
• Category-specific limitsNot resolved
• Aerodrome-related limitConditional
• Structure exceptionConditional
• Authorised exceedanceConditional
• Conditional limitsConditional
• ExceptionsConditional

What changes the answer

• altitude

  Flight altitude at or below 150 m

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  Flight Approval Exemption near Non-Military Aerodromes

  An operator is exempt from obtaining flight approval (비행승인) when flying an ultralight flying device (초경량비행장치) within a 3-kilometer radius of the center of a non-military aerodrome (비행장) and at an altitude of 500 feet or lower, provided that prior consultation has been made with the air traffic service provider at that aerodrome.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Flight Approval Exemption near Take-off and Landing Sites

  An operator is exempt from obtaining flight approval (비행승인) when flying an ultralight flying device (초경량비행장치) within a 3-kilometer radius of the center of a take-off/landing site (이착륙장) and at an altitude of 500 feet or lower, provided that prior consultation has been made with the manager of that take-off/landing site.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Flight approval for high altitude or controlled airspace

  Even if not in a designated flight restriction area, flight approval (비행승인) must be obtained when flying an ultralight flying device above the altitude prescribed by MOLIT Ordinance or within designated control zones (관제권) and restricted airspaces.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Flight Approval in Controlled, Restricted, and Caution Airspace

  An ultralight flying device pilot must not fly in controlled, restricted, or caution airspace without flight approval (비행승인), except for military purposes or when flying an unmanned power-driven flying device (무인동력비행장치) with a maximum take-off weight of 25 kg or less below an altitude of 150 meters outside of control zones and flight-prohibited areas.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Mandatory Wireless Equipment for Unmanned Aircraft

  Unmanned aircraft (무인항공기) must be equipped with and operate two VHF or UHF radio transceivers for ATC communication, one SSR transponder (Mode 3/A and Mode C) for pressure altitude reporting, and one automatic Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT, 비상위치지시용 무선표지설비).

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Special Flight Approval for Educational Drone Flights in School Playgrounds

  Flight approval in control zones or flight-prohibited areas may be granted for up to 12 months for educational flights of unmanned flying devices (무인비행장치) with an MTOW of 7 kg or less, conducted within school playgrounds during school hours at an altitude of 20 meters or less.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Standard Altitude Limits for Ultralight Flying Devices

  The maximum altitude limit for ultralight flying devices (초경량비행장치) is 150 meters above ground or water level, or 150 meters above the highest obstacle within a 150-meter horizontal radius in densely populated areas.

  Open the requirementOfficial source

Official sources

• 항공안전법 (Aviation Safety Act, Act No. 21268) — Chapter 10 초경량비행장치 — 국토교통부 (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)Open

Known limitations

• 1 dimension(s) of this topic are not expressed in a machine-resolvable way by the published corpus and are reported UNKNOWN, never FALSE.

Other drone rules in South Korea

• Do I need to register my drone in South Korea?Registration in South Korea depends on the aircraft and the operation: it applies once the published conditions below are met, each cited to the rule that sets it.
• Can I fly a drone near an airport in South Korea?Drone flights near aerodromes in South Korea are governed by airspace and aerodrome restrictions: whether permission is needed depends on the airspace, distance or aerodrome type published below.
• Can I fly a drone at night in South Korea?Night flying in South Korea is regulated rather than simply allowed or banned: published lighting, category and authorisation conditions below decide whether a given flight may take place after dark.
• When does a drone operation need authorisation in South Korea?Whether an operation in South Korea needs prior authorisation depends on the operational category, risk class or location: the published triggers below decide it.
• What training do I need to fly a drone in South Korea?Remote pilot competency in South Korea scales with the operation: which training, examination or proof of competency applies is set by the published conditions below.
• Do I need drone insurance in South Korea?Whether drone insurance is required in South Korea depends on the aircraft and the operation, as published in the conditions below.

All drone laws in South Korea