What you need to spray crops with a drone in South Korea: legal status, authorities, permits, requirements and operating limits, with links to the official sources.

Legal status

Allowed with authorisation. Spraying pesticides by drone is legal. Under the Aviation Safety Act the drone must be reported to KOTSA, the pilot needs a drone pilot certificate for the weight class, drones over 25 kg need safety certification, and spraying for others for pay requires registering a drone-use business; pesticides must be used according to their label.

Who regulates it

Aviation: Korea Transportation Safety Authority (drone reporting, pilot certificates, business registration) (KOTSA)
Aviation: Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology (safety certification) (KIAST)
Agriculture: Rural Development Administration (pesticide registration) (RDA)
Agriculture: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA)

Legal basis

Aviation Safety Act (항공안전법), arts. 122, 124, 125: Drone reporting, safety certification and pilot certification.
Aviation Business Act (항공사업법), art. 48: Registration of drone-use businesses, including paid spraying of fertiliser or pesticides and sowing seed.
Pesticide Control Act (농약관리법): Pesticide registration and safe-use standards.

What you need

Report the drone to KOTSA: all drones used commercially, and non-commercial drones over 2 kg take-off weight (art. 122). (easylaw.go.kr)
Drones over 25 kg take-off weight need safety certification (art. 124). (easylaw.go.kr)
The pilot needs a drone pilot certificate: class 4 (250 g–2 kg), class 3 (2–7 kg), class 2 (7–25 kg) or class 1 (over 25 kg) (art. 125). (easylaw.go.kr)
Spraying for others for pay requires registering a drone-use business with KOTSA: at least one pilot, one drone, insurance for each drone or the business, and KRW 30 million capital unless all drones are 25 kg or less. (easylaw.go.kr)
Use registered pesticides according to their label and safe-use standards; check that the label covers unmanned aerial application. (psis.rda.go.kr)

How to get authorised

Report the drone to KOTSA (and get safety certification from KIAST if over 25 kg). (drone.onestop.go.kr)
Pass the KOTSA drone pilot certificate exam for your drone's weight class. (lic.kotsa.or.kr)
If you spray for others for pay, register a drone-use business and insure it. (easylaw.go.kr)
Check whether the field is in controlled or restricted airspace and apply for flight approval if it is. (drone.onestop.go.kr)
Survey the site, plan drift control, inform neighbouring farms before spraying, and record the spraying afterwards. (mafra.go.kr)

Operating limits for spraying

Government guidance for multicopter spraying: wind 3 m/s or less, flight height 2–3 m, speed 15 km/h or less; pause spraying when hovering or turning (MAFRA PLS guidance).

Good to know

Flying an uncertified drone without a pilot certificate can lead to up to 1 year in prison or a KRW 10 million fine (art. 161).

Checked against official sources on 2026-09-18. Rules change: confirm with the authorities before operating. This page is a planning summary, not legal advice. The product label and the official rules always prevail.

Agricultural drone spraying rules in South Korea