The Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has selected the Seoul Metropolitan Government as the final site for the 2026 Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Regional Pilot Project Support Competition, an initiative launched to identify early commercialisation models for UAM tailored to regional needs.
Five metropolitan and provincial governments – Seoul, Gyeonggi, Busan, Ulsan, and North Chungcheong – participated in the competition. The feasibility of each project was assessed based on factors such as flight environment, infrastructure usability, service demand and integration with public services.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government proposed a hybrid UAM service model that integrates public healthcare with Han River tourism. Plans are underway to launch a public medical service that links Gimpo Airport with medical facilities along the Han River to facilitate the rapid transport of emergency medicines and transplant organs, alongside a tourism service connecting key riverside hubs that allows visitors to experience major landmarks from the air.
MOLIT will provide up to 1 billion KRW in state funding to the selected city of Seoul, matched 1:1 by local government funds, to support the formulation of a detailed business plan and the establishment of a foundation for initial commercialisation.
The funds will be used to prepare for actual UAM service implementation, such as identifying vertiport locations, developing architectural plans, analysing flight routes and air corridors, and assessing radio wave and communication environments.
MOLIT previously selected Jeju and the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region for budget support last year; it is currently assisting with business plan formulation and vertiport design for these areas while providing phased support to develop UAM services tailored to each region’s specific characteristics.
The ministry plans to expand the foundation for demonstration and commercialisation by including new UAM budget allocations for 2027 in its government proposal: 15 billion KRW for aircraft acquisition and 20 billion KRW for infrastructure development, including flight route design and vertiports. Funds for aircraft acquisition will be used for demonstration and commercialisation pilot projects, while infrastructure funds will be provided through a 1:1 matching arrangement with local governments, creating a total support package worth 40 billion KRW.
Support will be expanded to local governments that present new service models and concrete business plans tailored to their regional characteristics.
For more information
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
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