The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 6th that it will conduct the first 'regional pilot project' competition for metropolitan municipalities ahead of the commercialization of urban air mobility (UAM). The competition period is from the 11th to June 10.
This pilot project is intended to induce UAM service models and infrastructure plans suitable for regional conditions. The ministry plans to select about two municipalities participating in the competition and provide up to 1 billion won in government funding for each project. The subsidy rate is approximately 50%.
The selection evaluation will be conducted by a committee composed of UAM experts. It plans to comprehensively review project feasibility, service models, the feasibility of vertiport construction plans, and regional acceptability.
In addition to financial support for selected municipalities, the ministry plans to provide institutional and technical consulting to assist in resolving issues that may arise during the pilot project implementation process. The ministry will hold a briefing for municipalities at the Government Sejong Convention Center on the 7th to guide them on project implementation procedures and application requirements.
Kim Hong-mok, head of the Mobility and Automotive Division of the ministry, noted that "Korea is responding proactively to the global UAM market" and added, "We will strive to actively support the introduction of UAM services as a practical mode of transportation."