The airline Korean Air will invest 1.2 trillion Korean Won (630 million GBP at the current exchange rate) to build an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and Aviation Safety Research and Development Centre in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, in order to create a new major hub for mobility and aerospace innovation in South Korea. On 30th April, Korean Air formalised the project through a signing ceremony with Bucheon’s City Council at the Bucheon Arts Centre. The event was attended by major shareholders including Keehong Woo, the Vice Chairman of Korean Air; Yong-eek Cho, the Mayor of Bucheon; Han-Joon Lee, CEO of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH); and Myung-hee Won, CEO of Bucheon Urban Development Corporation.
About the Facility
Construction of the centre is set to begin in 2027, with an aim to begin operations in May 2030. It will span around 65,800 metres and will employ more than 1,000 personnel, many of whom will be highly specialised researchers and trainers, so that the facility can serve as a comprehensive hub for training, research and development. The facility will include three major components:
- A UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Research Centre, which will focus on developing software and AI for UAVs for commercial and defence aerospace innovation.
- A Flight Training Centre, which is set to become the largest pilot training facility in Asia, consolidating Korean Air and Asiana Airlines’ flight operations. This marks the continued cooperation of the two airlines. The number of available flight simulators will increase from 18 to 30, meaning up to 21,600 pilots can be trained annually.
- A Safety Experience Centre, which will provide immersive industrial safety training for airline personnel and educational programmes for local businesses, students and residents, designed to improve workplace safety and community engagement.
A spokesperson for Korean Air had this to say regarding the facility:
This is more than just a facility; it’s the launchpad for Korea’s future in aviation. Through bold investments in research, training, and technology, we are laying the foundation to lead the future of air mobility while deepening our commitment to safety, sustainability and global connectivity.
About Korean Air
Korean Air began operations in 1969 and has since served as South Korea’s national airline, with its global hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN). It carried over 23 million passengers in 2024 and serves 116 destinations in 40 countries. It is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance which boasts members such as KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) and Virgin Atlantic, and has grown into one of the largest transpacific airlines through its joint venture with Delta Airlines.
Have you flown with Korean Air before? Will the new hub benefit you as a customer or member of the local community? Let us know below.
