The thing that trips up pilots in South Korea most often is that registration, a pilot certificate, and flight authorization are three separate approvals, not one bundled step. Pilots who check only one of the three and skip the others are the ones who get stopped mid-shoot. Here is the order in which they actually work, from the weight limits to the portal you file through.
Weight decides, and not every limit means the same weight
Applications for drones in South Korea run through the Drone One-Stop portal (drone.onestop.go.kr): registration of the aircraft (Gichae-singo), flight authorization, the application for aerial photography, and a combined application for flight and photography. According to the portal's registration FAQ, an unmanned powered aircraft such as a multicopter must be registered if its maximum takeoff weight is over 2 kg, and aircraft used in a business under the Aviation Business Act (aircraft rental, aviation leisure sports or an ultralight-aircraft use business) are also subject to registration. The same FAQ lists unmanned powered aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 2 kg or less among the typical exempt aircraft. Whether a use counts as business depends on the actual purpose, so if you are unsure, check the portal's registration FAQ.
Keep the weight figures apart. For multicopters, the registration criterion (over 2 kg) is based on the maximum takeoff weight, the highest weight at which the aircraft may take off; only unmanned airships are judged by their own weight (over 12 kg) or length (over 7 m). An aircraft just under a limit can easily exceed it with an extra battery or accessories, so comparing only the number on the spec sheet can lead to a wrong conclusion. Check the manufacturer's figures and your actual weight with accessories.
Check the pilot certificate requirements yourself
Whether you need a pilot certificate, and which class, may depend on the type and weight of the aircraft. The eligibility, exam subjects, schedule and fees are outside the scope of this guide; check them directly on the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (KOTSA) page for the ultralight-aircraft (drone) pilot certificate exam. This is a separate procedure from registration, flight authorization and aerial photography, so do not check only one and skip the others.
When a separate flight authorization is needed
Registration and a certificate do not cover everything. Flight authorization (Bihaeng-seungin) is an approval of its own. According to the Drone One-Stop FAQ, flying is restricted within 9.3 km of an airfield (control zone), in no-fly zones (near the armistice line and parts of central Seoul) and at 150 m altitude or higher, and permission from the regional aviation office or the Ministry of National Defense is needed there; unmanned powered aircraft above 25 kg maximum takeoff weight also need flight authorization. The FAQ also says that an unmanned powered aircraft of 25 kg or less does not need flight authorization when it is flown in daytime below 150 m outside control zones and no-fly zones. A banner on the portal marks the surroundings of airports (control zones) and nuclear power plants as flight-authorization areas. Night flights (sunset to sunrise) and flights beyond the distance where you can see the aircraft with your own eyes need a separate special flight authorization from the regional aviation office. Where several airspaces overlap, the permissions of all responsible authorities apply. A park in a big city that looks wide open can still lie inside such a zone on the map, which is exactly why "it looks empty, it should be fine" is one of the most common causes of violations. For places with an owner or manager, such as private land, beaches, national parks or cultural heritage sites, the FAQ asks you to consult them beforehand. Check the site beforehand with the portal's map function. Processing time and the responsible body can vary by zone and altitude, so plan a generous buffer before your flight date.
Aerial photography needs its own application, separate from flight authorization
This is the step pilots mix up most often. According to the Drone One-Stop FAQ, aerial photography and flight authorization are separate. To fly a drone for aerial photography you must apply for flight authorization from the authority responsible for the airspace, and the aerial-filming application lets you check whether prohibited-photography facilities lie in the filming area. The old aerial-photography permit system was abolished and replaced by the aerial-filming application from 1 December 2022; the application exists to check whether facilities such as military or security installations, where filming is prohibited, are included in the filming area. Details such as deadlines and validity can change with the portal's guidance, so check them on Drone One-Stop before you shoot. Do not film military installations or other prohibited-photography facilities.
Common mistakes worth avoiding
- Using the weight from the spec sheet instead of the actual weight with batteries and accessories, and misjudging the registration duty as a result.
- Having flight authorization but skipping the separate application for aerial photography before shooting.
- Treating a quiet-looking area in a big city such as Seoul as unrestricted without checking whether it overlaps control or security airspace.
- Flying without checking on the KOTSA page whether a pilot certificate is required.
Practical checklist
- Determine the maximum takeoff weight of your drone, with batteries and accessories, and how you use it (business or not), and check in the portal's registration FAQ whether registration is required.
- Check on the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (KOTSA) page whether a pilot certificate is required for your aircraft and, if so, which class.
- If you will fly in a no-fly zone, in a control zone (within 9.3 km of an airfield) or at 150 m or higher, or your aircraft is over 25 kg, apply for flight authorization in good time through Drone One-Stop; night flights and flights beyond what you can see need a separate special flight authorization.
- If you want to take photos or film, use the aerial-filming application on Drone One-Stop to check whether prohibited-photography facilities are in the filming area (check deadlines and other details on the portal).
- Always check current requirements and final approval through the official Drone One-Stop portal (drone.onestop.go.kr). This guide is for information only, does not replace a flight approval and is not legal advice. You can find an overview of the situation in South Korea on our page on drone regulations in South Korea; the FlyDroneMap dashboard helps with flight planning.