A virtual image of a vertiport, a complex transfer facility, at Gimpo International Airport / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

Demonstration flights for urban air mobility (UAM) services are set to begin next year, focusing on the Yeouido and Han River areas, with plans to commercialize these services by 2030, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday.

"We are opening the skies of Seoul to create a safe and eco-friendly transportation alternative," Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said.

"This new mode of mobility will offer citizens unprecedented freedom of movement."

During the UAM, Drone and AI Technology Cooperation Conference held at Seoul City Hall, Oh unveiled plans for Seoul's urban air mobility (S-UAM) initiative, outlining a vision to transform the city into a "three-dimensional transportation hub."

The plan aims to create an integrated air transport system. The city government highlighted several key strengths of the S-UAM initiative, including the city's rich tourism resources, medical infrastructure, experience with helicopter operations and strong public transportation network.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon outlines the city government's plans for urban air mobility (UAM) services during the UAM, Drone and AI Technology Cooperation Conference at Seoul City Hall, Monday. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

In line with its goal, the city government plans to gradually establish vertiports, key facilities for UAM operations.

Vertiports are facilities where passengers can board and transfer between various modes of transportation, including UAM vehicles, buses, self-driving shuttles, subways and personal transport options.

The first phase of the UAM project will be launched in the first half of next year, featuring two initial demonstration routes — one connecting Goyang, Gimpo International Airport and Yeouido Park, and another linking Jamsil to Suseo Station.

Throughout this phase, safety assessments will focus on airframe reliability and flight control systems.

Following these tests, key facilities will be constructed at four locations — Yeouido, Suseo, Jamsil and Gimpo International Airport — to support pilot operations and early-stage services.

The vertiport at Gimpo International Airport is expected to serve not only business and commuter traffic but also tourism and medical routes, broadening the mobility options for Seoul residents and visitors.

The city government expects that the S-UAM system, once fully operational, will significantly enhance city-to-city connectivity and reduce spatial limitations.

A 25-kilometer route from Pangyo in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, to Gwanghwamun Station in central Seoul, currently a one-hour trip by car or public transit, will take only 15 minutes with UAM.

This reduction in travel time across the Seoul metropolitan area, including Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, is projected to generate an annual economic impact of around 2.2 trillion won.

"The city and the military will collaborate to create a safe and efficient transportation system, combining the expertise and technology of both organizations to help Seoul become a world-known transportation hub," Oh said.