South Korea's autonomous vessel Hayangnuri completes first trial voyage under new regulatory framework

The Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) announced Thursday that its autonomous test vessel Hayangnuri has completed its first trial voyage, marking the start of full-scale open-sea demonstration activities under the country's new regulatory framework. The vessel was the first in South Korea to receive operational approval under the Autonomous Ship Act.

Autonomous ships integrate advanced technologies such as AI into navigation systems to support crew decision-making and minimize human intervention, with the ultimate goal of fully unmanned operation. Regarded as a future technology combining safety and economic efficiency, they have drawn strategic investment from governments and global companies alike. The global market for autonomous ships is projected to reach $180.5 billion by 2032.

Open-sea demonstration is considered an essential step in establishing the reliability and safety of autonomous vessels. In South Korea, such testing had previously been conducted only on a limited basis through mechanisms such as regulatory sandboxes.

To support continuous and systematic open-sea demonstration, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries enacted the Act on the Development and Commercialization of Autonomous Ships — commonly known as the Autonomous Ship Act — in 2025, which includes a special demonstration exemption regime.

Under that regime, KRISO applied to the ministry for operational approval for the Hayangnuri, and after review and deliberation by relevant agencies, the vessel secured the country's first such approval.

The Hayangnuri met all approval criteria following safety evaluations of its autonomous navigation system and related equipment, becoming the first test vessel in South Korea to receive operational approval under the Autonomous Ship Act. The approval runs through Nov. 30, 2027.

The achievement marks the first time KRISO has met the country's regulatory requirements and conducted an open-sea trial within the formal approval framework. It is expected to serve as a turning point for expanding demonstration activities across a wider range of operating environments and advancing the underlying technology.

KRISO plans to gradually extend its demonstration scope from low-traffic waters to complex coastal areas, accumulating test data along the way. The institute will also support the reliability verification and commercialization of autonomous navigation component technologies and equipment developed by industry. Through this work, KRISO aims to strengthen its role as a public demonstration platform, while the data gathered will serve as evidence for developing international standards and norms, contributing to South Korea's participation in global discussions on autonomous shipping.

Im Geun-tae, head of KRISO's Autonomous Ship Demonstration Research Center, said the institute had built on last year's support for designating the country's first approved operating zone for autonomous vessels by securing a formal demonstration framework this year. "We have created an environment where we can advance autonomous navigation technology through more systematic demonstration," he said. "Going forward, we will use the demonstration data and operational experience accumulated across diverse sailing environments to enhance the reliability of autonomous navigation technology and contribute to the development of international standards and the strengthening of the domestic industry's technological competitiveness."