[Edaily Reporter Kim Ji-woo ] From tofu and bean sprouts to frozen pizza—food ordered by residents of an island village is being delivered by drone. It takes 7 to 10 minutes for a drone loaded with food from a local logistics hub to deliver it to the designated pickup location. Pulmuone Corporate has opened up an aerial route for grocery shopping in the island village by launching drone delivery of fresh food on Nanjido Island in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province.

According to Pulmuone Corporate on the 10th, the company, in collaboration with Dangjin City and drone specialist NinaNo Co., Ltd., launched a pilot project for “drone delivery of fresh food to islands and mountainous areas” on Nanjido on the 8th.

Deliveries pass through small-scale logistics hubs within the region. Pulmuone Corporate supplies products—selected based on its demand forecasts—to these hubs in advance, where the unmanned kiosk platform “Chulchul Box” stores them in refrigerated or frozen conditions. When customers order and pay for products via the Chulchul Box app, the items are loaded onto drones and sent to designated locations.

The product lineup includes refrigerated items such as tofu, bean sprouts, and natto, as well as frozen convenience foods like pizza and fried chicken. Items requested by residents during a drone logistics service demonstration held on July 31, led by Dangjin City, were also incorporated into the selection. Phone orders are available for residents who have difficulty using smartphone apps. The service is available not only to residents but also to tourists visiting Nanjido.

The maximum weight a single drone can carry is currently 8–10 kg, and the number of flights per day has not been specified. Orders can be placed from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The city plans to adjust the operation model based on future usage patterns and order frequency.

There are no delivery fees for residents during the pilot period. However, this may change depending on future support from Dangjin City, and operating conditions may be adjusted during the budget-setting process for next year, scheduled for late November.

This project was launched to improve access to food in so-called “food deserts”—areas lacking stores or delivery networks where residents can purchase food. Pulmuone Corporate received a proposal from the local government while exploring ways to utilize its fresh food cold-chain capabilities for corporate social responsibility. “Chuchul Box,” which had been used primarily for employee welfare at companies and public institutions since its launch in 2019, has expanded its scope through this project to include a delivery service for local residents.

Following Dangjin City, Pulmuone Corporate is preparing to introduce drone delivery in Gimcheon City, North Gyeongsang Province. Both local governments have signed memorandums of understanding with Pulmuone Corporate and are collaborating to participate in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s “Drone Demonstration City” project. The Ministry’s selection evaluation for the project is reportedly scheduled for November 30.

Pulmuone Corporate plans to review ways to expand drone delivery of fresh food to islands and mountainous areas, including further refining the “Chuchubox” drone delivery model and collaborating with more local governments in the future.

Pulmuone Corporate stated, “We have integrated the ordering and payment platform with refrigerated and frozen storage infrastructure and drone delivery,” adding, “We will contribute to improving access to food for residents in areas with vulnerable food supply chains, such as islands and mountainous regions.”