Gumi City targets national drone and anti-drone cluster status

Gumi City is expanding its industrial focus from drone mobility to include ‘anti-drone’ technologies, aiming to establish itself as a national drone and anti-drone cluster. During a recent Ulchi Exercise, the city conducted a large-scale integrated defense drill involving the military, police, fire services, and government agencies to test detection, identification, and neutralization capabilities against drone-based terror threats.

The drill simulated complex scenarios, including chemical agent attacks, fire suppression, and emergency medical responses. Gumi is leveraging its existing infrastructure, such as its designation as a Drone Special Liberalization Zone and its selection for the Gyeongbuk-Gumi Defense Innovation Cluster, to strengthen this sector. The city is also collaborating with local academic institutions like Kyungwoon University and defense companies including Hanwha Systems and LIG Nex1 to develop advanced security technologies, such as AI-integrated and quantum-secure drones.

Local officials are presenting these successful pilot programs to central government agencies, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, to advocate for the official designation of Gumi as a national K-drone integrated civil-military cluster.