Countries and corporations around the globe are actively developing Urban Air Mobility (UAM) as a sustainable transportation solution. As evidences support how UAM benefits the environment, society, and economy,  South Korea is taking an initiative to re-shape its mobility with this innovative technology. 

What are some key concepts of UAM?

UAM refers to the aerial technologies such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts as well as smaller drones encompassing passenger transport, cargo delivery, and other urban aviation services. 

Vertiports, specialized ground infrastructure that are integrated into existing urban infrastructure, serve as hubs for take-off, landing, charging, and maintenance of UAM vehicles. The combination of the technological advances of UAM vehicles and strategic locations of vertiports are critical for ensuring the efficiency of UAM systems.

UAM airspace management involves the design and regulation of low-altitude air corridors, traffic flow optimization, and collision avoidance systems. These systems must accommodate a high density of aerial vehicles while minimizing disruptions to existing aviation operations. 

The Triple Bottom Line

UAM addresses the challenges of urban transportation in a transformative way by contributing to the triple bottom line: environmental sustainability, social benefits, and economic viability. 

1. Carbon Management

UAM for both passenger and cargo transport significantly decreases greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to traditional ground transportation. A study published in Nature Communications has shown that an eVTOL capable of transporting four passengers emits 52% less carbon than conventional gasoline vehicles and 6% less carbon than electric vehicles 1). Additionally, a life cycle assessment result reported that small drones emit 23-54% fewer greenhouse gases than diesel trucks when delivering parcels weighing 0.5 kg 2).

2. Social Equity

UAM delivery systems enable residents in logistically-challenged areas to swiftly access essential goods such as food and medicine. For instance, South Korean islands have implemented drone delivery services that have significantly enhanced local residents' convenience by delivering necessities via drones when shipping services are unavailable 3).

3. Cost Reduction

The most expensive segment of the logistics chain is the last mile, which entails the final stages of product delivery to the consumer. Integrating UAM delivery systems into last mile operations can be an economic approach as it mitigates traffic congestion and automates the delivery process.A study from MIT suggested that integrating drones can reduce delivery costs by up to 56% in comparison to traditional truck-based delivery methods 4). 

Overview of South Korean Initiatives

The South Korean government designated UAM as one of the top 10 national technology projects, with plans for commercialization in metropolitan areas by the end of 2025 and nationwide expansion starting in 2026. UAM is anticipated to function as a comprehensive transportation system in South Korea, addressing both passenger and cargo transport needs while alleviating ground traffic congestion.

In June 2020, a coalition of 37 organizations, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, established the Urban Air Mobility Team Korea (UTK), a policy consultative body dedicated to advancing the UAM industry in South Korea. Various organizations and expertscollaborated to release strategic documents such as the Operational Roadmap (2020), the Technology Roadmap (2021), and the Concept of Operation (2021). These documents outline mid- to long-term research and development strategies, as well as specific tasks across different sectors of the UAM field in South Korea. 

Furthermore, the South Korean government solidified the foundation for the UAM industry by enacting the Act on Promotion and Support of Urban Air Transport Utilization in 2023. This legislation established a legal framework specifically addressing UAM, representing the government's commitment to fostering innovation in the transportation sector. Enacting this law has been expected to facilitate regulatory clarity, stimulate investment, and encourage collaboration among stakeholders across the country in the near future. 

Case Studies

1. K-UAM Grand Challenge

The K-UAM Grand Challenge is a large-scale, phased demonstration project initiated by South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. Its primary objective is to validate the safety, operational feasibility, and traffic management systems of UAM vehicles in urban environments as well as to establish a competitive and internationally recognized traffic management system tailored to domestic conditions. 

The project has made substantial progress through phased demonstrations since 2020. For instance, Joby Aviation completed its first series of flight tests in Goheung, Jeollanam-do in 2024, enabling a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of eVTOL aircraft in real-world conditions. The consortia’s next mission is to conduct the second series of flight tests in Ara Waterway, Incheon in 2025 to establish a UAM connection between the metropolitan area and surrounding regions.

This initiative also emphasizes the development of infrastructure that supports UAM operation. By 2030, a total of four vertiports are planned for construction and demonstration in the metropolitan area including Seoul. The vertiports are expected to serve as crucial hubs for takeoff, landing, and passenger transfers, allowing UAM to be seamlessly integrated into existing urban transportation systems. 

The benchmarks of the K-UAM Grand Challenge are designed to generate data for the development of operational concepts, technical standards, and regulatory frameworks necessary for the integration of UAM systems in South Korea. 

2. Drone City Project

The Drone City Project is ongoing nationwide to advance the K-Drone delivery standard. In 2023, the initiative successfully developed three operational models for islands, parks, and ports. In 2024, fourteen local governments and sixteen business operators participated in the project, facilitating a total of 2,993 deliveries of daily necessities and food items. These operations resulted in no human or material damage by emphasizing safety protocols.  

Future Directions

The future of UAM in South Korea appears promising. However, it is necessary to evaluate the advantages and challenges of this emerging technology. There are few key directions that are applicable to UAM for the upcoming years. 

1. Public Acceptance

Public acceptance is a critical factor in the successful adoption of UAM as a passenger transportation system. The K-UAM Roadmap states that the current level of public knowledge and trust regarding UAM is not enough to support the immediate implementation of the technology. The strategies to improve general perception about UAM include providing comprehensive education, operating pilot demonstrations, and establishing regulatory frameworks. Additionally, phased implementation that starts with cargo transport and transitions to passenger services can be another effective approach since it facilitates technical, regulatory, and operational challenges before expanding to passenger transport. The transition to passenger services becomes more feasible and acceptable to the public once cargo transports are proven beneficial. 

2. Integration to the Existing Transportation System

As UAM technology matures, integrating UAM into existing public transportation networks will be essential. Seamless connectivity plays a pivotal role in alleviating congestion, reducing travel times, and improving passenger experience. These goals can be achieved through strategic planning such as locating vertiports at public transit nodes for easier multimodal trips, linking urban and suburban areas to support commuters, developing a MaaS(Mobility as a Service) system that combines UAM and other means of transportation. This approach not only enhances passenger comfort but also promotes the adoption of UAM as part of a cohesive urban mobility system.

References

1) Kasliwal, A., Furbush, N.J., Gawron, J.H. et al. Role of flying cars in sustainable mobility. Nat Commun 10, 1555 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09426-0

2) Stolaroff, J.K., Samaras, C., O’Neill, E.R. et al. Energy use and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of drones for commercial package delivery. Nat Commun 9, 409 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-02411-5

3) Stonor, Chris. “South Korea: Jeju Island to Begin First Commercial Drone Delivery Service.” eVTOL Insights, 15 Nov. 2023, evtolinsights.com/2023/03/south-korea-jeju-island-to-begin-first-commercial-drone-delivery-service/. 

4) Yoon, J. (2018) Last-mile delivery optimization model with drones [Graduate Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology]. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/117930