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According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, drone operators should follow the aviation law and said that drones are banned from flying after sunset, within 5.5 kilometers of airfields or near crowded places.
Flying a drone higher than 150 meters from the ground is also prohibited.
"Unmanned flights are highly useful devices. Still, drone pilots should voluntarily follow the regulations because carelessness can cause accidents that may threaten lives and property," a ministry official said.
The aviation law stipulates important facilities related to national security, such as military bases and highly crowded areas like Seoul Plaza, are designated as no-fly zones for drones.
The law also says that pilots are not allowed to fly a drone while drunk or during atmospheric conditions with low visibility due to fog or yellow dust.
Violators can be punished with a penalty of up to 2 million won. Those who use drones to make a profit without registering their business are subject to a prison term of up to one year or a penalty of 30 million, the ministry said.
It said the increasing popularity of drones, either for commercial use or as a hobby, has recently caused the number of violations to jump.
According to the Capital Defense Command, the number of violation cases of illegal drone-flying was 49 last year, up fivefold from 10 in 2012.
The ministry said the most frequent violations include flight in no-fly zones, nighttime flights, unregistered for-profit flights and flights above crowded places.
However, a drone technology insider voiced concerns about the strict regulations.
"Such regulations are starting to undermine the growth of the promising drone technology industry, whereas the markets are already starting to thrive in overseas countries such as the United States," he said.
