Can you fly in Seoul at all?
Seoul has prohibited, restricted and airport-controlled airspace. Check the exact take-off point and planned route in Drone One-Stop’s current map before each flight. Do not navigate using a rough neighbourhood list: boundaries and temporary restrictions can change, and a lightweight drone is not exempt from airspace rules.
Check the conditions at Gwangnaru Drone Park
The Han River Drone Park at Gwangnaru (한강드론공원) is a designated flying area in Gangdong-gu, eastern Seoul. Read the facility page for current opening hours, reservations, aircraft limits and permitted activities before visiting. A park reservation does not replace any separate approval your flight requires.
Use only the approved park area and comply with the operating conditions. The city’s facility page separately addresses approval for camera-equipped drones; confirm the requirement with the centre. Outside the park, check airspace and local restrictions rather than assuming a rural location is unrestricted.
Check aircraft registration and pilot qualifications separately
Aircraft registration and pilot qualification have different weight thresholds. Under Article 122 of the Aviation Safety Act and Article 24 of its enforcement decree, a non-commercial drone weighing 2 kg or less is exempt from aircraft registration. For a heavier aircraft, check registration and identification requirements with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority.
The pilot-qualification rules distinguish aircraft by weight. A drone weighing 250 g or less is exempt from the pilot-certificate requirement. The next weight bands require Class 4 qualification for aircraft over 250 g and up to 2 kg, Class 3 for aircraft over 2 kg and up to 7 kg, and Class 2 for aircraft over 7 kg and up to 25 kg. Confirm how the rules apply to your aircraft and intended use before travel.
A drone weighing 249 g remains subject to airspace restrictions. Its weight does not permit flight over a palace, airport area or other restricted location.
The rules in the air
The operating rules cover altitude, visual line of sight, night operations, people on the ground, airspace and alcohol. Check the conditions that apply to your aircraft and planned operation. A spotter does not automatically exempt you from visual-line-of-sight requirements, and special operations can require advance approval.
Apply for the permissions your flight needs
Drone One-Stop (드론원스톱) is the government portal for drone-related applications. Check the current requirements, supporting documents and processing times for your flight. Arrange help with the Korean interface if needed, and allow time for questions or a request for more information.
Flight approval, aerial-photography clearance and permission to use the take-off site address different activities. Approval for one does not automatically cover the others. Night flights and flights beyond visual line of sight can require additional approval. The drone information portal provides further guidance.
Check restrictions before filming
Do not assume that permission to fly also permits filming a protected installation. The Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act restricts photography and related activities involving protected military facilities. Ask the relevant authority before planning images near a restricted facility, and follow signs and instructions on site.
Violations of aviation and military-facility rules can carry fines or criminal penalties, depending on the offence. Check the requirements for the actual operation instead of relying on one penalty amount as a guide to what is allowed. “What not to photograph” also explains rules that apply to photography from the ground.
The plan
- Check aircraft registration and pilot-qualification requirements for your exact aircraft and purpose.
- Check the planned location and route on Drone One-Stop, including temporary restrictions.
- Obtain any flight, photography and land-use permissions required before launching.
- Read local signs and do not launch near a restricted facility when the rules are unclear.
- Check the application lead times well before travel and wait for actual approval.
