[THE INVESTOR] Robots, drones and Internet of Things will be deregulated, and receive state R&D support in a government drive to improve South Korea’s logistics industry.

Under the plans unveiled by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on July 5, drone regulations will be eased to allow the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for courier services. As part of the plans, businesses involving drones weighing less than 25 kilograms will not be required to meet any capital requirements. In addition, the government will review licensing drone delivery services CJ Korea Express and other large companies are testing during the first half of next year. 


The ministry will also unveil mid- to long-term plans for the logistics industry during the first half of next year.

Regarding R&D, the ministry said that projects that can be put to commercial use in the near future will get priority support. Candidate technologies include advanced electronic navigation system for ships, robots used in logistics centers and IoT-based cargo tracking system.

In addition, a new logistics center will be opened at Incheon International Airport this month, and a “cold-chain cluster” designed for fresh food delivery will be opened in 2018.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)