Scope of the Ultralight Vehicle Registration Exclusions (Enforcement Decree Art. 24)

In plain language

Drone registration under Act Article 122(1) is not needed for an unmanned powered drone with a maximum takeoff weight of 2 kg or less, or an unmanned airship of 12 kg or less (excluding fuel) and 7 m or less, unless it is used for an aircraft rental, aviation leisure sports or ultralight vehicle use business under the Aviation Business Act. Powered drones above 2 kg, and any drone used in one of those businesses, must be registered unless another listed exclusion applies (tethered devices, research/development devices, unsold stock not flown, military devices).

Requirement as structured

Article 24 of the Enforcement Decree of the Aviation Safety Act defines the ultralight vehicles excluded from the registration (신고) duty in Act Article 122(1). A vehicle is excluded only if it is not used for an aircraft rental business (항공기대여업), an aviation leisure sports business (항공레저스포츠사업) or an ultralight vehicle use business (초경량비행장치사용사업) under the Aviation Business Act, and it falls under one of these items: (1) non-powered flying devices such as hang-gliders and paragliders; (2) balloons, except those carrying people; (3) tethered (계류식) unmanned flying devices; (4) parachutes; (5) unmanned power-driven flying devices (무인동력비행장치) with a maximum takeoff weight of 2 kilograms or less; (6) unmanned airships (무인비행선) whose own weight, excluding the weight of fuel, is 12 kilograms or less and whose length is 7 metres or less; (7) ultralight vehicles built by research institutions or similar bodies for testing, investigation, research or development; (8) ultralight vehicles built for sale by manufacturers or similar, not yet sold and not used for flight; (9) ultralight vehicles used for military purposes. The registration obligation itself is stated in Act Article 122(1).

Original regulatory text

제24조(신고를 필요로 하지 않는 초경량비행장치의 범위) 법제122조제1항 단서에서 “대통령령으로 정하는 초경량비행장치”란 다음 각 호의 어느 하나에 해당하는 것으로서 「항공사업법」에 따른 항공기대여업ㆍ항공레저스포츠사업 또는 초경량비행장치사용사업에 사용되지 아니하는 것을 말한다. <개정 2020\. 5. 26., 2020. 12. 10.<br1\. 행글라이더, 패러글라이더 등 동력을 이용하지 아니하는 비행장치 <br2\. 기구류(사람이 탑승하는 것은 제외한다) <br3\. 계류식(繫留式) 무인비행장치 <br4\. 낙하산류 <br5\. 무인동력비행장치 중에서 최대이륙중량이 2킬로그램 이하인 것 <br6\. 무인비행선 중에서 연료의 무게를 제외한 자체무게가 12킬로그램 이하이고, 길이가 7미터 이하인 것 <br7\. 연구기관 등이 시험ㆍ조사ㆍ연구 또는 개발을 위하여 제작한 초경량비행장치 <br8\. 제작자 등이 판매를 목적으로 제작하였으나 판매되지 아니한 것으로서 비행에 사용되지 아니하는 초경량비행장치 <br9\. 군사목적으로 사용되는 초경량비행장치