Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province – Residents of remote islands in Boryeong City, South Chungcheong Province, will soon benefit from drone delivery services, thanks to a successful bid for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport's "2025 Drone Demonstration City Project." The province has secured 480 million KRW in national funding to implement this innovative solution to address the logistical challenges faced by island communities.

The project, a collaboration between South Chungcheong Province, Boryeong City, the Boryeong Coast Guard, and a consortium of five drone companies, will utilize 780 million KRW in total funding, including provincial and municipal contributions. The service will operate from hubs in Wonsando and Ocheon Port, delivering goods to nine neighboring islands: Jangdo, Godaedo, Sapsido, Sodo, Hyojado, Chudo, Yukdo, Hayukdo, and Woldo.

Key components of the project include:

Drone delivery of daily necessities, public medical supplies, and discarded pharmaceuticals.
Drone-based maritime safety patrols.
"Love Basket" deliveries of prepared meals to vulnerable residents.
Development and distribution of a public delivery application for convenient ordering.
A call center to assist elderly residents unfamiliar with online ordering.
"By introducing drone delivery to the existing ship-centered logistics system, we aim to provide residents with faster and more convenient delivery services," said Lim Taek-bin, head of the South Chungcheong Province Land Management Division. "We will strive to successfully execute this demonstration project and expand drone delivery services to all island regions in the province, as well as urban parks, to commercialize drone delivery."

In addition to island delivery services, South Chungcheong Province is expanding its drone initiatives to enhance public safety and convenience. These include the development of digital tidal flat maps, the creation of drone parks, and the real-time transmission of disaster and emergency drone footage using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.