Jeju Island Employs Drones for Beach Cleanups and Other Public Services

Using drones to assist with beach cleanups and a range of public services. (Image courtesy of Yonhap) JEJU, May 9 (Korea Bizwire) – On the scenic vacation of island of Jeju, South Korea, an innovative initiative is using drones to assist with beach cleanups and a range of public services, highlighting the region’s embrace of cutting-edge technologies. According to Jeju provincial authorities, a special project will be launched on the islands of Chagwido and Hyeongjedo, where drones will aid in collecting marine debris from beaches during “plogging” – the activity of picking up litter while jogging or walking.

The process involves individuals gathering trash on the shoreline and depositing it into bags, which drones will then transport to nearby vessels designated for waste collection. Two drones capable of carrying loads between 3 and 5 kilograms at a time will be deployed for this purpose. Beyond beach cleanups, Jeju is exploring the use of drones for various public services.



One initiative involves flying drones equipped with weather sensors along the urban air mobility route between Jeju International Airport and the Jungmun Beach tourist complex to analyze meteorological conditions. Drones will also be utilized for improving safety measures at crowded events, assisting in search and rescue operations for missing individuals, and even staging drone shows as part of public entertainment offerings. Since 2019, Jeju has been using drones to transport medical supplie.