1st Steering Committee and Workshop Held
The 1st Steering Committee and Workshop for the Aviation Mobility Test and Evaluation Infrastructure Project were held on the 22nd at Taean Island Resort. Photo by Chungnam Province
On the afternoon of April 22, Chungnam Province announced that it held the 1st Steering Committee and Workshop for the "Green Urban Air Mobility-Future Aircraft (UAM-AAV) Core Component Test and Evaluation Infrastructure Project" for 2025 at Island Resort in Anmyeondo, Taean.
The Green Urban Air Mobility-Future Aircraft (UAM-AAV) Core Component Test and Evaluation Infrastructure Project will invest a total project budget of 32 billion KRW (15 billion KRW from the central government and 17 billion KRW from local governments) by 2028. The project aims to establish a comprehensive industrial ecosystem in the Bunamho area of Cheonsuman B District in Seosan City, encompassing the construction of a test and evaluation center, introduction of advanced testing equipment, support for prototype production and business conversion for companies, and the cultivation of specialized personnel.
At the workshop, more than 30 steering committee members?including officials from the province and Seosan City, the Korea Aerospace Administration, principal and participating research institutions, and experts?attended to discuss reports on project progress, strategic presentations, collection of opinions and discussions, and the establishment of implementation plans.
The construction of the center, which is currently in the architectural design phase, is scheduled to begin in the second half of this year, with completion planned for the first half of 2026 and the opening targeted for the second half of 2026. The project is proceeding with these milestones in mind.
The main test and evaluation equipment will include: core component condition-based reliability evaluation equipment; outdoor takeoff and landing environment evaluation equipment; hydrogen fuel cell hybrid power pack electric engine evaluation equipment; hydrogen fuel cell hybrid power pack stack evaluation equipment; indoor and outdoor flight performance evaluation equipment; and mobile composite thrust performance evaluation equipment.
Once the center is completed, it will be the first facility in Korea equipped to conduct precise test and evaluation of hydrogen fuel cell-based hybrid propulsion systems. It is expected to play a pivotal role in verifying the performance of future hydrogen-electric aircraft both domestically and internationally, and in advancing the localization of core component technologies.
Shin Pilseung, Director of the Future Industry Division of Chungnam Province, stated, "To flexibly respond to the rapidly changing technological environment of future air mobility, it is essential not only to establish the test and evaluation center but also to continuously advance its capabilities." He added, "Based on close cooperation with the Korea Aerospace Administration, we will focus our efforts so that Chungnam can firmly establish itself as a key national hub for testing and evaluation in the future air mobility industry."
Meanwhile, the province is also conducting a research project jointly with Seosan City and Taean County to establish a master plan for the "Cheonsuman B District Aviation Mobility Cluster," aimed at securing balanced regional development and future growth engines for both cities and counties.
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