Hancom, DJI to launch drone pilot training school here

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Business

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 08:28

Tech

Hancom, DJI to launch drone pilot training school here

Posted : 2020-02-24 17:13

Updated : 2020-02-24 18:16

DJI technicians control drones used to spray disinfectant in public areas in an attempt to control 2019-nCoV in China, Feb. 17. The Chinese drone maker said Monday it signed a partnership with Hancom to launch a drone pilot training school in Korea. / Courtesy of DJI Korea

By Baek Byung-yeul

Hancom plans to launch a drone pilot training academy in Korea in collaboration with Chinese drone maker DJI as part of its move to diversify its business portfolio into the still-lucrative drone business, the computer software company said Monday.

Under the joint agreement, the two companies will be tasked with developing new drones for public safety purposes together with new technologies used for unmanned aerial vehicles.

"Under the contract, Hancom Group won the rights for a Korean operation of DJI's drone pilot training academy, which is part of the Chinese company's education service for unmanned aerial systems," Hancom said.

The DJI Academy is based on curriculums developed by DJI. Featuring programs aimed at fostering pilots and industry experts, the school will be launched within the first half of 2020, according to Hancom.

Hancom is expected to set up the pilot school at its site in Gapyeong, about 50 kilometers east of Seoul. The training program will be comprised of both theoretical and practical courses. Hancom WITH, an online security arm of Hancom Group, which will be responsible for the education business, will also utilize its virtual reality technology-based drone simulator.

"We will offer coursework in basic theory lessons of drone flight and trial flight lessons for five different industry types," Hancom said.

Based in Shenzen, China, DJI is a leading drone maker, which currently owns roughly 70 percent of the world's market share.

DJI Korea said forging a partnership with Hancom will help the company expand its presence in Korea where the emerging business is still in its early phase.

"DJI could seal a partnership because we had a precious opportunity to work together with Hancom. We expect a lot of the partnership will help expand our foothold in Korea," Jung Kyoung-ryoon, policy and communication head at DJI Korea, said.

Jung said students who complete the pilot training course will receive certification issued by DJI. The number of students places and instructors, together with the opening date of the school will be announced later, he said.

"There are some private schools for training drone pilots but not many companies have tried to set up educational facilities. We also expect the training academy will help develop the country's drone industry," he added.

Since DJI first launched its DJI Academy in 2016, the company has been operating about 200 drone flight education centers in five countries and has produced more than 70,000 program graduates.

"With regulations being eased here, drones have been increasingly used in the country's public and industrial sectors but the demand for qualified drone pilots is explosively increasing. By introducing DJI's drone technology and experience it has earned in many different fields and countries, we expect the partnership will help improve the country's drone business," Kim Hyun-soo, CEO of Hancom With, said in a statement.

baekby@koreatimes.co.kr