South Korea farm ministry to push domestic drones as 94.6% of its fleet is Chinese-made
In short
Chosun Ilbo reported on 22 October that 295 of the agriculture ministry's 312 drones, or 94.6%, are Chinese-made, citing data given to lawmaker Kim Yong-tae. At a National Assembly audit the same day, Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong said Chinese-drone filming had been halted and that research and development to promote domestic drones is starting.
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Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryeong said on 22 October that the ministry would push to expand domestic production of drones used in agriculture and forestry. She spoke at a comprehensive audit of the ministry held at the National Assembly by its agriculture, food, rural affairs, oceans and fisheries committee, in answer to People Power Party lawmaker Kim Yong-tae. Kim had asked whether a roadmap for domestic production of such drones had been reviewed. [ 2 , 3 ]
Song told the committee that she found more than 500 drones in use in the agriculture and forestry sector and that R&D to promote domestic production begins this year. She said the ministry would take part in government-wide drone policy discussions. Yonhap reported that the government discussed a national drone development strategy under the prime minister in June and drew up related plans, and that the ministry had been left out. Song said it would join soon. [ 2 , 3 ]
Song also addressed security concerns about Chinese-made drones. According to Newsis, she said she had stopped filming with them the day after the 7 October audit, and that a security review had found no backdoor and no confirmed leak. Yonhap reported that at the earlier audit Kim raised security concerns about Chinese-made drones and Russian software used in a nationwide farmland survey. Song said then that there was no problem with how they were used, but ordered filming with Chinese-made drones temporarily suspended as a precaution. [ 2 , 3 ]
Earlier on 22 October, Chosun Ilbo reported that 295 of the ministry's 312 drones (94.6%) are Chinese-made, followed by 6 domestic, 6 American and 5 Swiss. It cited data the agriculture and defence ministries submitted to Kim's office. The paper said the ministry's internal rules classify agricultural drones as simple goods, so security reviews are skipped, and that industry figures have criticised reliance on Chinese products because cheap domestic ones are lacking. [ 1 ]
Chosun Ilbo contrasted this with the defence ministry, saying domestic production of military drones has reached up to 96.5% for division reconnaissance drones. It attributed this to the defence ministry's ban in principle on drones made in China and other communist countries, and to development by KAI, Korean Air and other defence firms with government support. Kim said domestic drones were needed to block leaks of detailed farmland and forest information, and proposed moving defence drone technology to the civilian sector. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The reports show the ministry relies heavily on Chinese-made drones while security concerns about them have been raised in parliament. The minister's remarks point to a push for domestic production and for the ministry to join government-wide drone policy talks.
Key facts
- Of 312 drones owned by the agriculture ministry, 295 (94.6%) are Chinese-made, followed by 6 domestic, 6 American and 5 Swiss, according to Chosun Ilbo. [ 1 ]
- Minister Song Mi-ryeong said on 22 October that she would push to expand domestic production of drones used in agriculture and forestry. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Song said filming with Chinese-made drones was stopped the day after the 7 October audit. [ 2 ]
- Song said a review found no backdoor and no confirmed leak of information. [ 2 ]
- Song said more than 500 drones are in use in the agriculture and forestry sector, and that R&D to promote domestic production starts this year. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Song said the ministry would soon join government-wide drone policy discussions, from which it had been left out. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Song Mi-ryeong said at the 22 October National Assembly audit that more than 500 drones are used in agriculture and forestry and that R&D to promote domestic production begins this year. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Song said the ministry would join government-wide drone policy discussions that it had not been part of. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Song had ordered filming with Chinese-made drones suspended after Kim Yong-tae raised security concerns at the earlier audit. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether any information leaked through the Chinese-made drones. Only Newsis reports Song's statement that no backdoor was found and no leak confirmed; the other documents do not address the result of the review.
- The 94.6% share of Chinese-made drones in the ministry's fleet. Only Chosun Ilbo reports the figures, which it says come from data submitted to Kim's office. Song's count of more than 500 drones in the agriculture and forestry sector is a different figure from the 312 the ministry owns, and the documents do not explain the difference.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Chosun Ilbo publishes its report that 94.6% of the agriculture ministry's drones are Chinese-made. [ 1 ]
- Newsis publishes Song's remarks that Chinese-drone filming was halted and domestic production would be pursued. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap publishes Song's remarks on expanding domestic drone production. [ 3 ]