"Drone Advertisements to Display Operator Risk Warnings Starting December"

Fair Trade Commission Takes Pilot Safety Management Measures Following April Sellers
Mandatory Disclosure of Pilot Compliance and Risk of Crash When Exceeding Transmission/Reception Range
Revision of 'Important Marking and Advertising Items Notice and Integrated Announcement of Marking and Advertising Items'

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Fair Trade Commission announced that starting this December, it will implement a revised notice requiring drone operators to mandatorily display safety precautions and risks. This comes just two months after a similar revision targeting sellers in April.

On the 17th, the Fair Trade Commission announced that the revised "Important Display and Advertising Items Notice" will take effect from December 17. According to the Aviation Safety Act, it mandates the compulsory display of drone operators' compliance requirements and associated risks.

Violations of the important information notice can result in fines up to 100 million KRW.

According to the Consumer Injury Surveillance System (CISS), among 72 drone-related injury cases reported over three years from January 2017 to December last year, 20 cases (27.8%) were crashes. A survey by the Korea Consumer Agency found that 20.5% of drone users experienced safety accidents. However, advertisements mainly focus on performance and features, while operator compliance requirements and risks are not properly communicated.

Accordingly, the Fair Trade Commission has mandated the display of operator compliance requirements. Under Article 310 of the Enforcement Rules of the Aviation Safety Act, manufacturers, sellers, and lessors of unmanned powered aircraft must display compliance items such as prohibited flight times, locations, prohibited actions during flight, and abnormal flight methods on their websites (or at business premises).

Prohibited flight times are from sunset to sunrise. Prohibited locations include controlled airspace, urban areas such as Seoul, areas near the Demilitarized Zone, and other national defense and security no-fly zones, as well as altitudes above 150 meters. Additionally, it prohibits dropping objects during flight, flying under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and flying when the device is not visible to the naked eye. Flying drones in a manner that poses risks to life or property over densely populated or crowded areas is also prohibited.

Furthermore, manufacturers, sellers, and lessors must mandatorily display the risk of crashes if the drone goes beyond the transmission and reception range. They must indicate on their websites (or at business premises) that the drone may crash if it leaves the transmission and reception range.

Goo Seongrim, Director of Consumer Safety Information Division at the Fair Trade Commission, expressed expectations that "this revision will prevent safety accidents caused by improper drone use and enhance consumer safety protection."

The Fair Trade Commission also revised the "Integrated Notice on Display and Advertising Items." It reflects 53 display and advertising items from 33 laws that have been newly established or amended since the current integrated notice has been in effect since June 30, 2016.

Four laws, including the Food Labeling and Advertising Act and the Chemical Products Safety Act, have been enacted, and eight laws such as the Eco-friendly Agriculture and Fisheries Act and the Children's Dietary Safety Act have been amended. As a result, business operators' obligations regarding consumer safety and health-related display and advertising have been significantly strengthened. The Fair Trade Commission incorporated these changes into the integrated notice. Related information can be found on the Open Consumer Portal "Happiness Dream."