Regional guide

Flying a drone in Jeju

Updated 2026-11-10 · 한국어 · Русский

The guide explains how the procedures work and is not legal advice. It does not confirm that you can fly at a particular place: that is decided by the competent authority on application. The sources and the date they were checked are at the end of the page. Zone boundaries change: check the Drone One-Stop map.

In short

Jeju Airport is surrounded by a control zone (관제권, 9.3 km radius): you do not take off there without 비행승인. It covers downtown Jeju City, Yongduam Rock, and Iho Tewoo and Samyang beaches.
The east of the island has a second control zone, around Jeongseok Airfield (정석비행장): Seongeup Folk Village and Sangumburi Crater lie inside it.
In Hallasan National Park, drone filming for personal purposes, travel included, is prohibited. The park makes exceptions only for public-interest work.
At natural heritage sites such as Seongsan Ilchulbong, drone filming needs a separate permit from the heritage office.
On beaches the general ban on flying over crowds applies, and a night flight needs a 특별비행승인.

Check your spot in the app

Korea Drone Zones is free, with no sign-up and no ads: zones, active NOTAMs and weather for the point you pick.

Open the web map

Which zones cover the island

Jeju Airport: Aerodrome control zone (관제권) with a 9.3 km radius in the north of the island. According to the Jeju provincial government's notice of 30 September 2026, a flight inside it needs approval from the authority beforehand. Whether a flight is possible and how to apply can be checked on the Drone One-Stop portal or with 제주지방항공청 (064-797-1744).
Jeongseok Airfield (정석비행장): The second control zone on the map, in Pyoseon in the east of the island. The rule is the same: 비행승인 before the flight.
Hallasan National Park: Drones are restricted under Article 29 of 자연공원법 and park notice 2018-12. The park office approves flights only for research, park protection and management, rescue work, news filming and other public-interest work. Approval from the Drone One-Stop portal does not replace the park's permission.
MOA 39, CATA 3: Military operations area MOA 39 covers the eastern tip of the island around Seongsan from the surface up to 5,000 ft. Civil aircraft training area CATA 3 lies over the south-east of the island from the surface up to 7,000 ft. On the map these are caution zones: check NOTAMs.
UA 24, UA 44: Ultralight vehicle flight areas (초경량비행장치 비행공역) in Gujwa and Geumak. According to 국토교통부 guidance, 비행승인 is not required in such areas. Each area has its own ceiling, and the pilot rules (night, people, visual line of sight) apply there too.
NOTAM: Temporary restrictions with a specific validity period: read them together with the permanent zones.

Where zones overlap, approval is needed from every authority involved.

Well-known places on the zone map

According to the zone snapshot and the heritage layer the app shows (checked on 10 November 2026):

Yongduam Rock, Dodubong Peak, Dongmun Market, Iho Tewoo and Samyang beaches: Jeju Airport control zone.
Seongeup Folk Village, Sangumburi Crater, Noksan-ro road, Saryeoni Forest: Jeongseok Airfield control zone.
Baengnokdam Crater, Witse Oreum, the 1100고지 rest area, Seongpanak trailhead: Hallasan National Park. Seongpanak also lies inside the Jeongseok Airfield control zone.
Seongsan Ilchulbong, Udo Island, Seopjikoji: Military operations area MOA 39. Seongsan Ilchulbong is also marked as a national heritage area.
Jeongbang and Cheonjiyeon waterfalls, Jusangjeolli Cliff, Yongmeori Coast, Manjanggul Cave, Marado Island: National heritage areas (국가지정문화재구역).

A place missing from this list does not mean there are no restrictions there: check the exact point on the map together with active NOTAMs.

How to apply

Check the point on the official Drone One-Stop map or in the app.
For the Jeju Airport and Jeongseok Airfield control zones, file 비행승인 on the Drone One-Stop portal before the flight. The processing time stated in the portal guidance is 3 days.
A night flight or a flight beyond visual line of sight needs a separate 특별비행승인, which takes up to 30 days.
In Hallasan National Park the permission is issued by the park office. The application is filed with a pilot certificate and proof of insurance.
At a heritage site, get a filming permit from the provincial heritage office in advance. The application comes with a filming plan: purpose, date, number of people and equipment.
If the place is a beach, private land or a heritage site, 국토교통부 advises agreeing the flight with the owner or manager in advance.

The 150 m altitude rule and approval inside zones also apply to drones under 250 g. General rules: drone laws in South Korea. See also: flying a drone in Seoul, flying a drone in Busan.

Penalties for flying without approval

In the Jeju Airport control zone, according to the provincial government: a criminal fine (벌금) of up to KRW 5 million.
Dangerous flight over crowds, filming that invades privacy, night flight and flight above 150 m are restricted or need separate approval. Depending on the violation: an administrative fine (과태료) of up to KRW 3 million.
In Hallasan National Park without the park's permission: an administrative fine (과태료) under 자연공원법.

By 30 September 2026 there had been 115 drone detections around Jeju Airport since the start of the year, 32 of them in September. On 31 August 2026 an unapproved drone disrupted operations for about 35 minutes, delaying 38 flights.

Frequent questions

Can I fly a drone at Iho Tewoo Beach?

The beach lies inside the Jeju Airport control zone: you do not take off there without 비행승인, and flying over people on the beach is prohibited whatever approval you hold. The decision on a particular flight is made by the authority on application.

Can I film Hallasan with a drone?

Inside the national park, drone filming for personal purposes, travel included, is prohibited: that is what the park office answered on 10 June 2026. Approval from the Drone One-Stop portal does not lift this ban.

Do I need a permit to film Seongsan Ilchulbong?

Yes. It is a natural monument: according to the Jeju provincial heritage office's answer of 23 March 2020, drone filming there needs a filming permit. The permit is refused if the filming harms the preservation of the site or is done for profit without public benefit. On the zone map the peak also lies inside MOA 39.

Do I need approval for a drone under 250 g?

Pilot training is not required for such a drone, but the control zones, the Hallasan National Park restrictions and the 150 m altitude rule apply at any weight.

Check the spot before you fly

The Korea Drone Zones app shows permanent zones, active NOTAMs, national parks and heritage sites for the point you pick in Jeju: Google Play, details on the home page. The app does not issue approvals and does not replace an application.

Check your spot in the app

Korea Drone Zones is free, with no sign-up and no ads: zones, active NOTAMs and weather for the point you pick.

Open the web map

Sources

Checked on 10 November 2026. The sources are in Korean.

Jeju provincial government: notice on drones around Jeju Airport (30 September 2026).
Hallasan National Park office: rules for drone operation in the park (10 June 2026).
Hallasan National Park office: answer on filming for personal purposes (10 June 2026).
Hallasan National Park office: answer on Drone One-Stop approval (25 January 2022).
Jeju World Heritage Office: answer on filming at Seongsan Ilchulbong (23 March 2020).
국토교통부: questions and answers on drone rules (28 July 2022).
Drone One-Stop: guidance on approvals and processing times.
Zone and heritage boundaries: the snapshot of official data published by the app.