LG Uplus to use UAM to slash EMS transportation time

South Korea's internet service provider LG Uplus Corp. on Thursday said it signed an agreement with the municipal government of Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, Gyeongsang National University (GNU), GNU Hospital, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), GS Engineering & Construction Co., and GS Caltex to develop a domestic-style ecosystem for advanced air mobility (AAM).

AAM is a broad concept spanning urban (UAM) and regional air mobility. The global market research company Precedence Research said the global AAM market is expected to jump 500% from $8.9 billion last year to $45.1 billion in 2030.

Under the agreement, a consultative body will form a domestically developed AAM ecosystem by preparing the basis for a pilot city project in emergency medical services (EMS) using medical facilities in Jinju as a base and verifying the operating system through setup of a futuristic aircraft demonstration center through cooperation among the parties.

First, GNU Hospital, the only university medical center in the province, will use AAM to set the basis for effective response to EMS demand on the southern coast. The commercial launch of AAM service will enable quick response to EMS demand in remote mountainous areas, cutting response time from at least 90 minutes by car to cover 80 km to just 15 minutes.

Thus EMS personnel through AAM can provide services within the “golden hour,” or a critical window of time to save those suffering from emergencies like a heart attack, respiratory standstill and massive bleeding.

The operating system for autonomous aerial vehicles (AAV) will also undergo verification. LG Uplus will supervise data transmission technology based on commercial and industrial communications and the UAM traffic management system, and Jinju administrative, institutional and fiscal support.

GNU will provide infrastructure and technical advice for UAM field experts and its hospital the same for EMS pilot projects. KAI will take charge of AAV aircraft, GS E&C construction and operating technology and systems of vertiports, and GS Caltex vertiports at regional gas station sites.

Jinju, along with the South Gyeongsang government, KAI and Gyeongnam Technopark, are also working on building an AAV demonstration center by 2025 to test operating systems like for AAV aircraft research and demonstration and flight tests at Gasan General Industrial Complex in the Jinju township of Ibanseong.

LG Uplus will verify its integrated operating system by linking the UAM traffic management platform with the AAV demonstration center.

Write to Seung-Woo Lee at leeswoo@hankyung.com