Remote pilot competency 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.

• Competency requiredConditional
• Training requiredConditional
• Examination requiredConditional
• Proof of competency issuedConditional
• Operation-specific qualificationNot resolved
• Validity periodNot resolved
• Renewal or recurrent trainingNot resolved
• Minimum ageNot resolved
• Weight-based triggerNot resolved

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  Application for Designation as a Specialized Training Institution

  An entity seeking designation as a specialized training institution for ultralight flying device pilots (초경량비행장치 조종자 전문교육기관) must submit an application form along with documents detailing professional instructors, educational facilities and equipment, and training plans and regulations to the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (한국교통안전공단).

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Application Procedure for Test Flight Permit

  To apply for a test flight permit (시험비행등 허가), the applicant must submit an application in Form 119 to the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology (기술원) along with documents proving compliance with technical standards, including device specifications, test flight plans, manufacturing proof, safety evidence, operating procedures, and photos.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Deemed Certification for Designated Advanced Drone Technologies

  A person who obtains designation for advanced drone technology (드론첨단기술) under Article 13 is deemed to have received safety certification (안전성인증) under the Aviation Safety Act, conformity assessment (적합성평가) under the Radio Waves Act, and agricultural machinery testing (농업기계의 검정) under the Agricultural Mechanization Promotion Act.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Duty to Submit Reports and Documents Upon Request

  Ultralight flying device (초경량비행장치) pilots, owners, and business operators must submit reports or documents regarding their operations when requested by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (국토교통부장관) for the purpose of ensuring aviation safety.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Exemption from Safety Certification for Approved Test Flights

  An operator is exempt from the safety certification (안전성인증) requirement when conducting test flights (시험비행) or other flights specified by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, provided they have obtained permission (허가) from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Exemption of Unmanned Aircraft Operations from Aviation Worker License

  Flight operations of unmanned aircraft (무인항공기) are exempt from the requirement to obtain a standard aviation worker license (항공종사자 자격증명).

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Facility and Equipment Standards for Specialized Training Institutions

  A designated training institution must possess at least one classroom, one office, takeoff and landing facilities, at least one training flying device, and at least one electronic terminal for managing student attendance.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Fine for flying without a pilot certificate

  A person who operates an ultralight flying device (초경량비행장치) without obtaining a remote pilot certificate (조종자 증명) shall be subject to an administrative fine (과태료) of up to 4 million KRW.

  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

• 5 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.
• What is the maximum drone altitude in South Korea?Drone flights in South Korea are held to a published general height limit of 150 m AGL. The limit is not absolute: the published conditions that change it are cited below.
• 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.
• 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