Drone Delivery of Daily Necessities Begins in Incheon Island Areas... Deokjeokdo and Soyado Prioritized

Drone delivery service for daily necessities in the island areas of Ongjin-gun, Incheon is set to be fully launched.

On the 25th, Incheon City held a demonstration at the Soya 2-ri Community Center from the Soya-do ferry terminal in Deokjeok-myeon, Ongjin-gun, delivering daily necessities (groceries) using drones. Officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Incheon City, Ongjin-gun, and local residents attended the event.

Since being selected in March for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's '2024 Drone Demonstration City Establishment Project (K-Drone Delivery Commercialization)' competition, the city has been working with Incheon Technopark (project management) and Pablo Aviation (drone delivery) to establish a drone delivery system for island areas.

So far, the city has established three delivery hubs: Soya-do ferry terminal, Daeeijak-do Sea Rest Area, and near the camping site on Jawol-do, as well as 10 delivery points where customers receive their goods (1 in Soya-do, 6 in Deokjeok-do, 1 in Mungap-do, 1 in Gureop-do, and 1 in Yeongheung-do).

Drone takeoff and landing site at Soya-do Pier, the delivery hub [Photo by Incheon City]

The drone delivery service aims to support the convenience of purchasing essential daily items for island residents. It will initially be implemented in Deokjeok-do and Soya-do, and from the second week of next month, it will be sequentially expanded to Jawol-do, Daeeijak-do, Mungap-do, and Gureop-do.

Orders are placed through the app 'ALLIVERY,' and customers pick up their items directly at the designated delivery points. Delivery is free of charge. The items available for delivery include 258 daily necessities weighing up to 3 kg, sold at the Ongjin Nonghyup Hanaro Mart. Detailed item lists and day-specific promotions can be checked through the ordering app.

An official from Incheon City stated, "Through drone delivery, we can now supply daily necessities promptly to island areas where delivery services have been poor. Based on the results of this project, we will strive to commercialize drone delivery by expanding delivery areas and items."