Legal reference

Drone laws in South Korea

Updated 2026-11-10 · Русский · 한국어

The guide explains how the procedures work and is not legal advice. It does not confirm that you can fly at a particular place: that is decided by the competent authority on application. The figures below come from official guidance; the links and the date they were checked are at the end of the page. Check current thresholds, deadlines and forms with 국토교통부 and Drone One-Stop.

In short

Drones are not banned in Korea, but in many places you do not take off without approval: in prohibited and restricted areas, near aerodromes, and at 150 m or higher.
Central Seoul is covered by the prohibited area P-73, with the restricted area R-75 around it and the Gimpo Airport control zone to the west.
Night flights and flights beyond visual line of sight need a separate 특별비행승인, which can take up to 30 days.
Aerial photography has its own application, 항공촬영: it checks whether facilities that must not be filmed are nearby.
A drone heavier than 250 g requires pilot training; heavier than 2 kg, registration as well.
Since 17 September 2026, flying in a prohibited area without approval is punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine of up to KRW 10 million.

Check your spot in the app

Korea Drone Zones is free, with no sign-up and no ads: zones, active NOTAMs and weather for the point you pick.

Open the web map

What changed on 17 September 2026

Amendments to the Aviation Safety Act (항공안전법) came into force. Flying in a prohibited area (비행금지구역) without approval now carries imprisonment of up to 1 year or a criminal fine (벌금) of up to KRW 10 million. Before that, the penalty was an administrative fine (과태료) of up to KRW 3 million.

Source: a notice from the Seoul Metropolitan Government citing 한국교통안전공단. Many online summaries of Korean drone rules still quote the old amounts.

When 비행승인 is required

According to the Drone One-Stop guidance, flight approval is required if at least one of these applies:

the flight is in an aerodrome control zone (관제권, usually a 9.3 km radius), a prohibited area (비행금지구역) or a restricted area (비행제한구역);
the altitude is 150 m or higher;
the maximum take-off weight exceeds 25 kg, at any altitude.

The application is filed through Drone One-Stop; the processing time stated in the portal guidance is 3 days. Where areas of different authorities overlap, approval is needed from each of them. Within 3 km of an aerodrome or landing site the flight is also coordinated with its operator.

When none of these applies, the guidance does not require a 비행승인 application, but every other rule on this page still applies.

Night flights and beyond visual line of sight

A flight between sunset and sunrise, or one where the pilot cannot see the aircraft (BVLOS), needs a separate 특별비행승인. The processing time stated in the portal guidance is 30 days, so this application has to be filed well before the trip.

Aerial photography: 항공촬영

항공촬영 and 비행승인 are different procedures, and one does not replace the other. The filming application checks whether facilities that must not be filmed fall within the shot; it is filed through Drone One-Stop and reviewed by the military (국방부). According to guidance from the Seoul Metropolitan Government (as revised on 17 April 2026), prior permission for filming is not mandatory, and the application is recommended 3 to 5 days before the flight when in doubt; the Drone One-Stop guidance states 4 working days.

Filming a prohibited facility is punishable whether or not an application was filed.

The procedure names are not translated: the authority and the application form use exactly these terms.

Drone weight: training and registration

Up to 250 g inclusive: The pilot qualification threshold does not apply. Zones, altitude, night flights and filming are regulated the same way as for heavier drones.
Over 250 g up to 2 kg: Qualification 4종: an online course on the 한국교통안전공단 portal before the first flight.
Over 2 kg up to 7 kg: Qualification 3종.
Over 7 kg up to 25 kg: Qualification 2종.
Over 25 kg: Qualification 1종, the safety certification 안전성인증 and 비행승인 at any altitude.

Aircraft registration (장치신고): for non-commercial use it is required when the maximum take-off weight exceeds 2 kg; for commercial use it is required at any weight, together with liability insurance.

The portal guidance does not say whether foreign pilot certificates are recognised: ask 한국교통안전공단.

What a pilot must never do

drop objects that endanger people or property;
fly over crowds, residential or commercial districts in a way that creates danger;
approach people or buildings with a risk of collision;
operate the drone after drinking alcohol or taking drugs;
lose sight of the drone without a 특별비행승인;
get in the way of manned aircraft: they always have priority.

Zone types on the map

P: Prohibited area (비행금지구역): operations only with official approval. Examples: P-73 in central Seoul, P-518 along the northern border.
R: Restricted area (비행제한구역): coordination with the responsible authority is required. Example: R-75 over Seoul.
CTR: Aerodrome control zone (관제권): the procedure goes through Drone One-Stop.
ATZ: Aerodrome traffic zone: a preliminary check and coordination are required.
NOTAM: Temporary restrictions with a specific validity period; read them together with the permanent zones.

National parks and cultural heritage sites are shown as separate map layers: they have their own rules and their own approvals.

What the map does not determine

Altitude, time of day, flight beyond visual line of sight, flights over people, and the insurance and pilot qualification requirements depend on the rules and the nature of the operation, not on a single point on the map.

Landowner rules and orders of the municipality, park administration, police and military units are not in open data. Find them out on site.

Frequent questions

Can a tourist fly a drone in Korea?

The official guidance has no separate regime for tourists: the weight, zone and application requirements are the same for everyone. Applications are filed through Drone One-Stop before the flight, not on site.

Do I need approval for a drone under 250 g?

Pilot training is not required for such a drone. But prohibited and restricted areas, aerodrome control zones, the 150 m altitude limit, night flights and filming rules do not depend on weight.

What about flying in Seoul?

P-73 covers the centre, R-75 lies around it and the Gimpo Airport control zone is to the west: approval is required in all of them. Check the exact point on the map; the decision is made by the authority on application. More: flying a drone in Seoul.

What about Busan?

The west of the city lies inside the Gimhae Airport control zone, and the north-east (Gijang) inside the prohibited area around the Kori nuclear power plant. More: flying a drone in Busan.

And in Jeju?

Jeju Airport and Jeongseok Airfield have control zones around them, and Hallasan National Park prohibits drone filming for personal purposes. More: flying a drone in Jeju.

How long does an application take?

According to the portal guidance: 비행승인 takes 3 days, 항공촬영 is filed 4 working days before filming (Seoul recommends 3 to 5 days), and 특별비행승인 takes up to 30 days.

What is the penalty for flying in a prohibited area?

Since 17 September 2026 it is a criminal penalty: up to one year in prison or a fine of up to KRW 10 million.

Check the spot before you fly

The Korea Drone Zones app shows permanent zones, active NOTAMs, national parks and heritage sites for the point you pick: Google Play, details on the home page. The app does not issue approvals and does not replace an application.