SKT Implements UAM Service within Hwaseong International Theme Park

The ‘K-UAM Dream Team’ consortium, consisting of SKT, Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, and T map Mobility, announced on the 2nd that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Shinsegae Property to promote the Hwaseong International Theme Park Urban Air Mobility (UAM) project.

The Dream Team and Shinsegae Property have agreed to jointly implement UAM services within Hwaseong International Theme Park. The core of the collaboration is to build vertiports?facilities necessary for UAM takeoff, landing, and navigation?and to cooperate in providing services that allow people to travel using UAM aircraft. UAM is an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) based air mobility service powered by electricity. It is an eco-friendly mode of transportation capable of vertical takeoff and landing without runways in urban areas and can be integrated with various ground transportation modes.

The Hwaseong International Theme Park project is a futuristic advanced complex city development by Shinsegae Property on a 4,189,000㎡ site within Songsan Green City. Shinsegae Property plans to establish theme parks, hotels, residences, shopping malls, golf courses, and build a future mobility environment including UAM and autonomous driving.

Through this MOU, the Dream Team will undertake business operations necessary for the Hwaseong International Theme Park UAM project, including flight services, vertiport operations, traffic management, and mobility platforms. Initially, SKT will operate the overall UAM service by leveraging its AI capabilities. It will introduce UAM aircraft, verify their safety, and build flight management systems and airspace networks.

Korea Airports Corporation will be responsible for vertiport operations and traffic management services, Hanwha Systems will develop UAM traffic management solutions, and T map Mobility will implement Mobility as a Service (MaaS) to connect UAM with other transportation modes and provide customized benefits. Shinsegae Property plans to build vertiports within the Hwaseong International Theme Park development site currently under construction and link them with major transportation and tourist facilities.

This MOU signifies the first attempt to create a new dimension of theme park by introducing UAM from the development stage. Hwaseong International Theme Park is expected to enhance accessibility to UAM by organically connecting with various ground transportation such as railways and buses. Both parties are also planning new tourism content that links UAM with major tourist resources and infrastructure around the theme park. Furthermore, starting with Hwaseong International Theme Park, they plan to promote cooperation across the entire UAM ecosystem.

Earlier, the Dream Team signed an MOU with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in February this year and has been actively promoting the UAM demonstration project. They plan to lead commercialization by 2025 by thoroughly verifying the technical safety and integrated operability of UAM aircraft, traffic management, and infrastructure.

To this end, the Dream Team is also actively collaborating with local governments. Following agreements with Jeju City and Daegu City in September and October last year, they signed UAM MOUs with Gyeongsangnam-do in May this year, and with Sejong, Daejeon, Chungbuk, and Chungnam in October, securing advantageous positions in the UAM business. This MOU signifies an expansion of the Dream Team’s partnerships beyond local governments to include private sector partners.

The aircraft, considered a core element for UAM commercialization, has also been secured stably. In June, SKT made a strategic investment of $100 million in global UAM aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation, securing exclusive rights to use Joby aircraft in the Korean market. In September, the two companies signed a cooperation agreement for the ‘Korean Urban Air Mobility Demonstration Project (K-UAM Grand Challenge)’ and commercialization, committing to deploy their full capabilities in technology, infrastructure, and personnel.

Shin Yong-sik, CEO of SKT Connectivity, said, “This collaboration is the first attempt to open a new horizon for future mobility by introducing UAM from the development stage. SKT will strive to create various UAM hubs across Korea, including Hwaseong International Theme Park, in cooperation with Shinsegae Property, based on world-class aircraft and AI technology.”