Wonju announced Thursday that it will officially launch its "K-Drone Delivery Demonstration Service" on Saturday.
The city plans to expand deliverable items beyond the existing lineup of Hwangdun steamed buns and steamed corn to include fresh fruits and vegetables, aiming to boost resident satisfaction.
Wonju has been selected for two consecutive years for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's "2026 Drone Demonstration City Development Project" and has been gradually building out its drone infrastructure on that basis.
This year, the city is focusing on commercializing services that let residents and tourists experience drone technology in their daily lives, building on the first-year infrastructure established last year.
The drone delivery service runs from Saturday through October, operating once a week on Saturdays at the Hwangdun-ri campsite in Sillim-myeon. During the peak summer season in July and August, when visitor numbers surge, service will expand to twice a week, on Fridays and Saturdays.
To ensure safe and thorough operations, the city will first obtain the necessary approvals and begin delivery service at two sites — Wonju Kids Camping Ground and Pinocchio Natural Recreation Forest — before expanding sequentially to three additional sites after July: Maebong Healing Camp, Hanul Auto Camping Ground and Gamaksan Camping Forest, bringing the total to five locations.
"The drone delivery service launching in June will be a lifestyle-oriented service that lets residents and tourists experience its convenience firsthand on site," a Wonju city official said. "We will do our best to ensure that drone delivery becomes established as a representative, citizen-centered demonstration project for Wonju through stable demonstration operations."
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