Asia
South Korea
MOLIT/KOCA — Aviation Safety Act
Korean regulation is managed through the 'Drone One-Stop' portal, which however requires a Korean phone number for identity verification — a significant practical obstacle for foreign tourists.
Tourist flying effectively not allowed
Without a Korean phone number, a tourist can effectively only legally operate drones under 250 g, or rely on an authorized local operator.
Above this threshold (or in densely built-up areas), flight approval is required.
Mandatory for drones over 250 g via the Gov24 or Drone One-Stop portal, with ID document and aircraft serial number.
Insufficient data on a specific licence for purely recreational flight in this research.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: 29 designated ultralight flying zones where flight is free without approval; ban near military installations and in the Seoul metropolitan area.
Last checked: 2026-08
Go deeper
Why registration exists
Operator registration exists for accountability: if a drone causes an incident or enters a restricted zone, the authority needs to be able to trace it back to whoever was flying it. You usually get an identification number (operator ID) to physically attach to the drone, valid for every drone the same person owns. The cost is often minimal or free, and it applies to visiting tourists too, not just residents. For South Korea, the official reference remains MOLIT / KOCA, also via Drone One-Stop. Mandatory for drones over 250 g via the Gov24 or Drone One-Stop portal, with ID document and aircraft serial number.
How this usually works
Here the requirement depends on factors like the drone's weight, distance from people, or use case (recreational vs. commercial). The note above describes the most common case: if your situation is different, check the official source to see exactly which scenario applies to you before flying. The exam and certificate are handled by MOLIT / KOCA, also via Drone One-Stop. Insufficient data on a specific licence for purely recreational flight in this research.
Other countries in Asia
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.