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A drone taxi that can carry people and fly around the sky of Seoul for the first time today (11th).

It is calculated that it takes about an hour by car to reach it in 20 minutes by drone taxi.

The government plans to establish itself as a means of transportation in the city center within five years.



First, reporter Jung Joon-ho.



<Reporter> As the



propellers on each of the eight wings rotate at once, the fuselage soars to a height of 50m lightly.



Then, it slowly flies through the Seoul sky along the Han River.



This is the first flight moment of a drone taxi carrying people in Korea.



The drone taxi flew over the Han River between Mapo Bridge and Sogang Bridge for 5 minutes at a speed of 50 km/h and landed safely.



The drone taxi introduced this time can carry up to 2 adults and a total of 220kg.



Inside, there is an instrument panel like this, so you can check your position, speed, altitude, etc.



In this remote controlled flight, 80 kg of rice was loaded instead of humans for safety.



Drone taxis are drawing attention as a future means of transportation that will reduce the chronic urban traffic congestion.



It is calculated that the distance from Yeouido, which is 40km in a straight line, to Incheon International Airport can be reached in 20 minutes by car.



It uses electricity and has less noise than a helicopter, making it eco-friendly and relatively low in cost.



Manned drones made in China on a pilot flight cost 300 million won per unit.



The government is cultivating pilots and improving the system with the goal of commercialization in 2025.



[Rang/Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Future Drone Transportation Officer: I think safety should be thoroughly verified for at least 3 years.

(Developers) are planning to support as much flight experience as possible.]



Drone taxis will operate like shuttles with takeoff and landing sites such as airports, public parking lots, and building rooftops.



Initially, the final goal is for pilots to board together and then to fly fully autonomously through the remote control phase.



The government expects that the fare will be around 110,000 won based on 40km at the beginning of commercialization, but expects that the fare will be lowered to the level of taxis by 2035, when autonomous flight becomes possible.



(Video coverage: Kim Yong-woo, video editing: Lee Seung-hee)