Yangju City Wins Structural Inspection Category at 'Public Sector Drone Piloting Competition'

Yangju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kang Su-hyun) announced on the 14th that it won first place in the structure inspection category at the "2024 Public Sector Drone Piloting Competition" held on the 13th at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Drone Education Training Center in Siheung City, Gyeonggi Province.

Kim Ji-woon, an officer from the Drone Policy Team of Yangju City Self-Sufficient Urban Development Division, and others are taking a commemorative photo after winning first place in the structure inspection category at the "2024 Public Sector Drone Pilot Competition" held on the 13th. Provided by Yangju City

The "Public Sector Drone Piloting Competition" was hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and organized by the TS Transportation Safety Authority. The competition was held to verify the achievements of drone education in the public sector and to promote the activation of the domestic drone industry through increased utilization of drones in public sectors.

The structure inspection category, in which Yangju City participated, involves using drones to inspect public facilities requiring safety checks such as roads, tunnels, and bridges. The inspection elements include identifying cracks and defects in fastening parts. The category comprehensively evaluates the ability to inspect structures through drone piloting based on flight stability, inspection accuracy, measurement precision, landing, and mission completion time.

At the competition, Kim Ji-woon, an administrative officer from Yangju City's Self-Sufficient City Development and Drone Policy Team, served as the lead pilot and led the team to victory. Officer Kim, who was hired through a competitive career process, possesses outstanding expertise and skills in drones and is known as one of the top experts in facility inspection within the domestic drone industry.

This year, thanks to Officer Kim Ji-woon's achievements, the city has earned the honor of winning three major awards: the runner-up and Gyeonggi Province Governor's Award at the Gyeonggi Province Drone Piloting Competition, the grand prize and Minister of the Interior and Safety Award at the Urban Regeneration Drone Photo Contest, and now the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award at the Public Sector Drone Piloting Competition.

Mayor Kang Su-hyun of Yangju City said, "I sincerely congratulate Officer Kim Ji-woon, who elevated Yangju City's status by winning the competition through abundant field experience and professional knowledge," and added, "We plan to spare no investment in building a drone industry foundation to secure future growth engines for our city."