South Korea Seeks Permanent Autonomous Shipping Test Zone Near Geoje Island

South Korea is pursuing the creation of a permanent autonomous shipping test zone off Geoje Island to advance unmanned vessel development and provide regulatory certainty.

Test Zone Application Submitted for Geoje Coastal Waters

South Gyeongsang province has submitted an application to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to designate the coastal waters linking Hansan, Gajo and Chilcheon islands as an autonomous vessel trial area. Approval is expected by the end of the year. The zone would facilitate ongoing testing by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), which operates a 24-tonne autonomous vessel in the area under a regulatory exemption granted earlier in 2024.

The vessel, developed at a cost of KRW2 billion (US$1.4 million), measures 12 metres in length and includes automated engine and steering controls, route tracking, collision avoidance, and an AI-driven situational awareness system that integrates camera and sensor data. The current regulatory exemption allowing this testing is due to expire at the end of December 2024.

Permanent Framework to Support Autonomous Ship Development

Provincial authorities are working towards establishing a permanent testing framework aligned with South Korea’s autonomous ship development and commercialisation legislation. Consultations have been held with the coastguard, fisheries representatives and local governments to ensure the proposed test zone will not interfere with fishing, recreational activities, or commercial shipping routes.

South Korea has recently intensified its focus on autonomous shipping by forming a national taskforce to shape emerging regulations at the International Maritime Organization. The government is also investing KRW30 billion in an AI data platform designed to support next-generation autonomous vessels.

According to officials, securing approval for the Geoje test zone would offer shipbuilders a more predictable regulatory environment, enabling the progression from experimental voyages towards commercial deployment of unmanned ships.

Continued regulatory support and infrastructure development will be critical in positioning South Korea to advance its autonomous shipping capabilities within the Asia-Pacific maritime sector.