A view of Gapado, famous for its green barley festival (Image courtesy of Jeju Tourism Organization)
SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – Parcel delivery is now possible to Gapado, a unique island located between Jeju Island and Marado. Gapado’s distinctive shape resembles a stingray, which is why it got its name. This beautiful island is known for hosting the annual Gapado Green Barley Festival.
Jeju Island, in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, has announced the launch of a drone delivery service to Gapado. The service will begin on September 21 and is aimed at reaching an island that regular couriers cannot access. The distance from a port in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, to Gapado is approximately 4.5 kilometers.
Previously, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) selected Gapado as the location for this year’s drone demonstration project. A commercialization promotion group was formed consisting of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, Jeju Island authorities, drone companies, and logistics companies to promote drone delivery services in the island region.
To facilitate this initiative, various government departments and local governments have come together to create a cooperative system. Initially, the MOLIT established the world’s first drone identification system on Jeju Island, allowing real-time tracking of drones in flight using a mobile communication network (LTE). GPS coordinates were assigned to specific locations on steep slopes and 14 drone delivery points were designated.
It’s important to note that not all homes on Gapado are eligible for drone delivery. Some homes may not receive drone deliveries due to resident opposition or because they are located on the main island. In such cases, a central delivery point has been designated for nearby houses to collect their parcels.
Jeju Island has also invested in infrastructure by setting up two drone delivery bases—one in Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo City, on the main island of Jeju, and another at the Gapado marina. The inaugural drone delivery using this service is scheduled for September 21. Four pre-ordered parcels will be consolidated and transported from a point in Sangmori, Dajeong-eup, to the drone delivery center at Gapado Pier. From there, they will be loaded onto four small drones (each carrying up to 3 kg) and simultaneously delivered to private homes.
These drones will follow a predetermined delivery flight path and drop the parcels from a height of 2-3 meters into a receiving net in the recipient’s yard.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
