A man flies a drone. In Korea, the number of unauthorized drone flights in no-fly zones is increasing. Gettyimagebank

Unauthorized drone flights in no-fly zones are straining the police's administrative resources. Recently, many individuals contacted by police over piloting these drones have been foreign tourists, often unaware of the regulations. This situation highlights the need for pre-entry education on drone usage.

The Aviation Safety Act has required all drone pilots, except those using toy drones under 250 grams, to obtain a mandatory pilot qualification since 2021.

This includes hobby and leisure drones weighing between 250 grams and 2 kilograms. Although there is no need to take a separate test as required for higher qualifications, a 6-hour training course must be completed.

Additionally, even qualified pilots cannot fly drones in no-fly zones such as downtown Seoul, the demilitarized zone, nuclear power plants or within a 9.3 km radius of airports without prior approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Violations can result in fines of up to 3 million won ($2,300).

Despite these regulations, the number of unauthorized drone flights is increasing. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, illegal drone flights in Seoul have risen from 98 cases in 2020 to 130 in 2021, 210 in 2022 and 345 last year, an average annual increase of 52 percent.

A major issue is that every time an unauthorized drone is reported, not only the local police but also security teams from district police stations must respond to rule out any potential terrorism threats.

However, upon arrival, they often find that these drones pose no security threat, leaving the responding officers frustrated. Most of the individuals are foreign tourists attempting to capture aerial views of Seoul with their drones, according to the police.

"Due to heightened vigilance following the balloon incidents from North Korea, we respond seriously to every report, but this is wasting our administrative resources," said a security team leader at a district police station.

Popular tourist spots like Itaewon and Namsan Tower, despite being no-fly zones due to their proximity to the presidential office in Yongsan District, are often unknowingly frequented by tourists flying drones.

Videos of Seoul filmed by drones are uploaded on personal accounts on YouTube and Instagram. Few of these videos are marked as officially authorized. Captured from YouTube and Instagram

Notices in multiple languages

A police officer from a police station in Yongsan District, Seoul said, "Earlier this year, we received two to three reports daily from areas like Itaewon and Hangang Park, causing 'drone neurosis' among us. The fatigue among officers responding to foreign tourists' drone flights is significant, raising concerns about our ability to handle real emergencies effectively."

Penalizing foreign tourists for unauthorized drone flights is also challenging. Often, by the time police arrive, the drones or their operators have disappeared. Even when identified later, tourists frequently move to different jurisdictions or leave the country, complicating enforcement.

Measures recommended by police to alleviate the issue include educating tourists upon entry into the country and installing conspicuous signage at major tourist sites.

Another police officer said, "Tourists carrying drones should be informed of relevant regulations by immigration officers upon arrival."

Kim Ki-won, a professor of military studies at Daekyeung University, said, "Unlike other countries, Korea's military and security facilities are close to urban areas. It's essential to place no-fly signs and broadcast announcements in multiple languages at major tourist spots to ensure tourists are aware of the restrictions."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.