DJI to Open Drone Arena in Korea

You may have heard of the Aerial Sports League, or similar drone communities getting together to organize events tailored to FPV enthusiasts. Well now Chinese drone giant DJI is getting in on the act. The company has announced that it will launch the first DJI drone arena in Korea next month.

The idea is to provide a fun but safe environment for people who want to learn how to fly a drone, as well as a gathering place for enthusiasts in general. The 1,395-square-meter arena is located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, 49 kilometers south of Seoul. It will open for business in the middle of August.

So what can visitors to DJI’s first Drone Arena expect? Well, the venue is completely indoors, equipped with plenty of safety nets, an adjustable LED-lit racetrack, and a LCD TVs for immersive first-person viewing. There will also be a maintenance room fitted with charging docks and a workstation, for pilots to recharge their batteries and make minor repairs.

In a statement, Moon Tae-hyun, DJI Korea’s Country Manager, said “DJI is committed to making aerial technology more accessible and easier to learn for anyone who wants to use it, and the DJI Arena is a great example. We hope to provide a safe and fun environment for people to experience the technology firsthand, whether they are skilled enthusiasts or someone who is just curious to learn. Best of all, the indoor venue will provide a space for people to fly all year round despite weather conditions outside.”

We wanted to know whether this move from DJI signals a foray into the drone entertainment/arena market for the industry’s most successful manufacturer. Speaking exclusively to Dronelife, DJI’s Associate Director of Communications for Asia and the Pacific, Kevin On, downplayed the idea that this could be the first of many DJI Arena launches in quick succession.

“We are very excited about the opening of the DJI Arena. We have no news on DJI Arena in other countries at the moment. We are focusing our efforts on launching the one in Korea,” he said.

We asked him if perhaps official arenas such as DJI’s will offer enthusiasts a place to fly away from the restrictions of regulations. This was with Aerial Sports League’s own battle against the California legislature in mind. Kevin On pointed out that the increasing popularity of drones will naturally see regulations develop. DJI’s Arena is simply a part of that process.

“Governments in various countries have already or have plans to set up RC / drone parks for recreational flying, so it’s great to see more dedicated facilities to accommodate the growing popularity of this technology,” he said.

“New UAV regulations will emerge as the adoption of this technology continues to increase. Dedicated RC / drone parks or facilities is not a way to get around regulations, but an alternative for people who want to learn about the technology and fly in a safe and fun environment. The purpose of setting up the DJI Arena serves this purpose in addition to allowing aerial enthusiasts who want to fly year round or if they are looking to fly in a venue that is not too far away from the city.”

The DJI Arena will be open for individual and group bookings, corporate event rental and a venue for DJI’s New Pilot Experience Program and workshops. For skilled drone pilots and UAV clubs, the arena can also offer the stage for more advanced flying experiences and drone racing.