This photo taken on Sept. 19, 2020, shows a person receiving a food box delivery from a drone during a government-led test event at the administrative city of Sejong, some 130 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEJONG, Nov. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Parcel delivery services offered jointly by humans and robots are expected to become available in two or three years at the earliest.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance said Wednesday that it had decided to revise the Living Logistics Service Act towards including drones and robots as transportation means.
Under the current law, the transportation means are limited to cargo trucks and two-wheeled motor vehicles. There is no legal basis for using drones or robots as transportation means.
Accordingly, the ministry plans to clear the way for drones and robots to be used for living logistics services but in the manner of complementing existing services.
For instance, drones can be used to expand delivery services for remote and isolated areas, while robots can be used for loading or unloading parcels.
The government plans to come up with support measures to protect the existing living logistics service workers, as well as to boost spending in the sector.
Through consultations with related ministries, living logistics service workers, and professionals, the government plans to propose the revision of the Living Logistics Service Act in early next year.
However, given the time needed to revise related laws, including the Aviation Act, and the period of regulatory exceptions for demonstration, it may take more than two or three years before drone and robot delivery services can be used in everyday life.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
