Gyeongsang National University, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, and GS Construction
Agreement Signed with GS Caltex, LG Uplus, and KAI
Jinju City in Gyeongnam announced on the 9th that it has signed a business agreement with Gyeongsang National University, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, KAI (Korea Aerospace Industries), GS Construction, GS Caltex, LG Uplus to establish a Korean-style Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industrial ecosystem.
The signing ceremony took place at the Jinju K-Entrepreneurship Center, attended by Mayor Cho Gyu-il, Gyeongsang National University President Kwon Soon-ki, Gyeongsang National University Hospital Director Ahn Sung-gi, KAI Executive Director Kim Ji-hong, GS Construction President Heo Yoon-hong, GS Caltex Executive Director Park Sang-hoon, and LG Uplus CTO Lee Sang-yeop.
Jinju City will provide administrative and financial support for the establishment of the Korean-style AAM industrial ecosystem. Gyeongsang National University will train experts in the UAM field and provide technical support through the Gyeongnam Jinju Small and Strong Special Zone Support Center. Gyeongsang National University Hospital will utilize infrastructure for the pilot city project and offer technical advice in EMS operation.
Additionally, KAI will be responsible for UAM aircraft development; GS Construction will collaborate on attracting UAM pilot projects through research on vertiport construction/operation technologies and system development; GS Caltex will utilize local gas station sites for vertiports; and LG Uplus will conduct research and demonstration projects on UAM traffic management platforms.
Through this business agreement, the city plans to foster the future aviation industry by discovering various projects such as joint cooperation for the UAM pilot city project, linked projects including system verification using the Future Air Vehicle (AAV) Demonstration Center, and promotion of UAM-based infrastructure construction and utilization projects.
By attracting AAV aircraft manufacturing companies and nurturing related parts industries in connection with the Future Air Vehicle (AAV) Demonstration Center, which has been promoted since this year, it is expected to create quality jobs and greatly contribute to the development of the aviation industry in Gyeongnam, including Jinju, as well as the regional economy.
Mayor Cho said, “This business agreement is a gathering of local governments, institutions, and companies united for the development of the region’s future aviation industry. We will strive to make Jinju a leading city that can lead the AAM industrial ecosystem through this agreement ceremony.”
Jinju City recognizes the future aviation sector as a field responsible for the next 100 years of Jinju’s future and has been hosting international conferences related to UAM (Urban Air Mobility) annually since 2016 to foster the UAM industry. In May 2021, it was selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s drone demonstration city project, and in November of the same year, it formed the ‘UAM Jinju’ council encompassing institutions, universities, companies, and the military to gather diverse opinions.
In October last year, five organizations including Gyeongnam Province, Jinju City, Sacheon City, Gyeongsang National University, and KAI signed a ‘business agreement for fostering the UAM industry.’ This year, a Future Air Vehicle (AAV) Demonstration Center capable of research, demonstration testing, flight testing, and operational system verification for AAV aircraft will be constructed in the Gasan General Industrial Complex area of Ibanseong-myeon, scheduled for completion next year.
Furthermore, by actively attracting related public institutions and consolidating companies and institutions, Jinju plans to create a Korean-style AAM industrial ecosystem where the entire process from aircraft production, demonstration testing, flight testing, to aircraft certification can be carried out in one place.
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