Reasons for Proposal

Urban air mobility (UAM) is drawing attention as a future transportation system that can provide a solution to various problems of society such as environmental pollution and increased costs to society caused by urban traffic congestion. A wide range of technologies and policies are being developed around the world to commercialize UAM services.

However, the current Aviation Safety Act, Aviation Security Act, Aviation Business Act, Airport Facilities Act, and other aviation-related laws focus on fixed-wing aircraft and airport facilities with runways and cannot comprehensively provide for the new industry of UAM, its aircraft, and the installation and management of vertiports. Although it is essential to provide support according to the rapid expansion of relevant markets, there are no legal grounds for administrative and financial assistance. Unlike pre-existing air transport services, it appears that role division and close cooperation with local governments is essential due to the nature of UAM, which involves low-altitude flights in urban areas.

Accordingly, the enactment of the Special Act on Promotion of Urban Air Mobility Commercialization promotes the introduction, spread, and other commercialization of UAM based on the establishment of a close cooperative system between the central and local governments; and allows the development of flight infrastructure and provision of administrative and financial assistance necessary for safe and efficient flights by UAM aircraft; thereby aiming to ensure the global competitiveness of the Korean UAM industry and contribute to enhanced convenience in transportation.

Major Provisions

A. Prescribe that the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport shall promote the introduction and spread of UAM, safe and efficient flight management, and development of the UAM industry by formulating an urban air mobility master plan every five years to comprehensively coordinate interrelated administrative measures and achieve the administrative objective of the introduction and spread of UAM and development of the UAM industry; and require cooperation with local governments to sustainably maintain policies implemented by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, such as by ensuring the validity of policy implementation, clarity of policy objectives, ease of access to budgets through policy implementation, and validity of the policy implementation system (Article 7).

B. Establish an Urban Air Mobility Committee under the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to deliberate and vote on policies and important matters concerning UAM, and organize a special committee with local government participation to provide consultation and advice on UAM operation (Article 9).

C. Prescribe that an Urban Air Mobility Industry Council may be established and operated under the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, with members consisting of public officials from local governments and central administrative agencies in charge of UAM industry-related affairs, executives or employees of public institutions, business operators in the UAM industry, etc., to identify areas for assistance necessary for the development and advancement of UAM industry infrastructure. Allow the Urban Air Mobility Industry Council to request the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to incorporate relevant matters into the master plan or, for matters requiring Committee deliberation, request agenda items to be presented to the Committee (Article 12).

D. Allow the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to designate and operate demonstration project zones by consulting with local governments and via Urban Air Mobility Committee deliberation/vote to facilitate research and development, demonstration, testing, etc. of UAM. Prescribe grounds to provide administrative/financial assistance necessary for individuals who fly in a demonstration project zone for performance testing, development, etc. of urban aircraft; individuals who fly urban aircraft to research safety standards, etc.; and individuals who operate UAM-related facilities, engage in traffic control operations, develop flight infrastructure, etc., or support the flight of urban aircraft (Article 13).

E. Prescribe an exception where the Aviation Safety Act, Aviation Business Act, Airport Facilities Act, and Aviation Security Act shall not apply to an individual engaging in a demonstration project in a demonstration project zone, or to an urban air mobility business operator, etc. who is engaging in a pilot program in a trial operation zone (Articles 14, 17, and 19).

F. Prescribe that the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport may designate trial operation zones via Urban Air Mobility Committee deliberation/vote after receiving applications from Mayors and Do Governors who intend to operate trial operation zones to promote the commercialization of UAM (Article 15).

G. Newly insert a regulatory fast track for trial operation zones, and prescribe that any person who operates an urban air mobility business in a trial operation zone shall purchase liability insurance (Articles 18 and 28).

H. Allow the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to carry out vertiport development projects, allow persons other than the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to develop vertiports, and prescribe the relevant procedures (Article 20).

I. Ensure safe operation of urban aircraft in trial operation zones by allowing the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to designate urban air mobility corridors via Urban Air Mobility Committee deliberation/vote (Article 23).

J. Prescribe procedures for the designation and management of urban air mobility business operators, and allow the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to wholly or partially subsidize urban air mobility business operators for the necessary expenses within budget limits (Article 24).

K. Prescribe grounds on which to establish and operate an urban air mobility information system and urban air mobility spatial information to ensure the safety, regularity, and efficiency of urban aircraft flights, facilitate the safe operation of urban aircraft, and support the commercialization of UAM (Articles 26 and 27).

L. Allow the state and local governments to facilitate the introduction and spread of urban aircraft and development of the UAM industry by providing administrative/financial assistance to UAM-related business operators, etc., and prescribe that the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Mayors, and Do Governors may provide support to foster and manage professional talent (Article 29 and 30).