A conceptual rendering of an AI-powered drone for public safety use. (Photo courtesy of the Jeju Autonomous Police Committee)
JEJU, Dec. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Jeju Island will begin deploying artificial intelligence–powered police drones in local law enforcement operations next year, marking South Korea’s first application of AI drone technology in autonomous policing, officials said on Thursday.
The Jeju Autonomous Police Committee held a public demonstration of the new “AI public safety drones” at the Jeju Public Policy Training Institute, showcasing their use in emergency situations such as missing-person searches and tracking theft suspects. The system was developed under the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Smart Village initiative.
Jeju records more than 100 missing-person reports each year, many occurring in mountainous or coastal areas where ground searches can take three to four hours and become nearly impossible at night. Police have also faced difficulties responding to seasonal thefts during the tangerine harvest, as patrols across vast farmlands are labor-intensive and limited in scope.
The AI-enabled drones are designed to address these gaps by rapidly scanning wide and hard-to-access areas, enhancing both speed and coverage in emergency responses.
The autonomous police force plans to further test and refine the system before launching full operations in 2026. As part of the rollout, Jeju will establish a dedicated “AI Public Safety Patrol Unit” to integrate drone operations into routine policing.
“This AI police drone, developed for the first time in the country, will serve as a starting point for transforming the policing paradigm,” Park Young-bu, chair of the Jeju Autonomous Police Committee, said. He added that the goal is for the drones to function as “AI police officers” working alongside human officers to protect residents’ safety.
The initiative reflects Jeju’s broader push to adopt advanced technologies to address the island’s unique geographic and public safety challenges.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
