Exemptions for Public Interest and Emergency Operations

Verified from official sources
Article 131-2Version 1Effective -Verified 31 August 2026

In plain language

State, local government, or public institution drones used for urgent public missions like firefighting, search and rescue, or disaster response are exempt from certain standard flight restrictions (such as night flight or flight over crowds), as long as they have established safety management plans.

Requirement as structured

Unmanned aircraft owned or leased by the State, local governments, or designated public institutions are exempt from the operator compliance rules under Article 129, Paragraphs 1, 4, and 5 when flown urgently for public purposes (such as firefighting, search and rescue, disaster response, or emergency medical transport), provided that safety management measures (안전관리 방안) are established in accordance with MOLIT regulations.

Original regulatory text

국가, 지방자치단체, 「공공기관의 운영에 관한 법률」에 따른 공공기관으로서 대통령령으로 정하는 공공기관이 소유하거나 임차한 무인비행장치를 화재의 예방ㆍ진화, 수색ㆍ구조, 산림 순찰 등 재해ㆍ재난의 예방 및 대응활동, 응급환자 후송, 그 밖에 국토교통부령으로 정하는 공공목적으로 긴급히 비행(훈련을 포함한다)하는 경우(국토교통부령으로 정하는 바에 따라 안전관리 방안을 마련한 경우에 한정한다)에는 제129조제1항, 제4항 및 제5항을 적용하지 아니한다.