Drones Cannot Be Flown Without Approval Within 9.3 km of Jeju Airport; 115 Detected This Year

【Financial News Jeju—Reporter Jung Yong-bok】 A total of 115 drones have been detected around Jeju International Airport so far this year, including 32 in September alone. In August, the appearance of an unauthorized drone delayed 38 flights, making prior approval mandatory for flying drones within 9.3 kilometers of Jeju Airport.
According to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on the 2nd, 115 drone detections have been recorded around Jeju Airport this year.
Thirty-two of those cases occurred in September alone. A total of 59 drones were detected during the first half of this year, and their operators were apprehended in 21 cases.
Some incidents have disrupted actual flight operations. At around 8:34 p.m. on August 31, an unauthorized drone appeared near Jeju Airport, delaying the operation of 38 flights for approximately 35 minutes.
The disruption affected 33 domestic flights and five international flights. Among the domestic flights, 22 departures and 11 arrivals were delayed, while three international departures and two arrivals were also delayed. Even a drone casually flown at a tourist destination can pose a threat to aviation safety depending on its distance from Jeju Airport.
The area within a 9.3-kilometer radius of Jeju Airport is a control zone. It is airspace where flights are managed to ensure the safe takeoff and landing of aircraft, and anyone seeking to fly a drone within this area must obtain prior approval from the relevant authorities. Flying without approval can result in a fine of up to 5 million won.
The problem is that tourists and drone users may not realize that beaches and tourist attractions are regulated airspace around the airport.

Major tourist attractions in Jeju, including Iho Tewoo Beach and Samyang Beach, may fall within Jeju Airport's control zone depending on their location. Drones cannot be flown freely simply because the location is a beach or tourist attraction.
That is why users must first check whether the intended flight location lies within a control zone or no-fly zone before launching a drone. Information on whether a flight is permitted and how to obtain approval is available through the Drone One-Stop Civil Service or the Jeju Regional Office of Aviation.
Restrictions also apply outside the airport's control zone. Drones must not be flown dangerously in crowded areas or used to film in a way that violates privacy. Night flights and flights at altitudes above 150 meters are also restricted under the law or require separate approval.
Jeju Airport handles frequent domestic and international arrivals and departures, making drone flights in the surrounding area capable of causing actual flight suspensions or delays.
As shown by the incident in August, a single unauthorized drone sighting can affect dozens of departing and arriving flights, causing direct harm to flight operations and passengers' schedules beyond the scope of an individual's leisure activity.
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province urged people who spot a flight suspected of involving an illegal drone near Jeju Airport not to approach or attempt to locate the operator themselves, but instead to report it to the police or the Jeju Regional Office of Aviation.
Kang Min-cheol, director of Jeju Province's Transportation and Aviation Bureau, said, "A moment of carelessness can threaten the operation of aircraft and the safety of residents and tourists." He added, "Before flying a drone, please check whether the flight is permitted and whether approval is required, and follow the law and safety guidelines."


[email protected] Jung Yong-bok Reporter