Japan Underwater Drone Association Signs MOU with South Korea's DAEHAN EnC; Partnership Begins to Support Underwater Drone Popularization, Social Implementation, and Human Resource Development in South Korea

The Japan Underwater Drone Association (Representative Director: Yasuhiro Kobayashi; Secretariat operated by Space One Co., Ltd., Taito-ku, Tokyo) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the South Korean engineering firm DAEHAN EnC. The agreement aims to foster cooperation regarding the popularization, social implementation, and human resource development of underwater drones in South Korea.

Main Areas of Cooperation Under the MOU:

1. Information Sharing on Underwater Drone Technology and Systems We will share the knowledge accumulated by the Japan Underwater Drone Association regarding underwater drone technology, operational methods, and related systems in Japan to support DAEHAN EnC’s efforts to explore their application within South Korea.

2. Cooperation in Exploring Applications in Industrial, Public, and Research Sectors We will cooperate in examining target fields and usage methods for underwater drones across a wide range of sectors, including infrastructure inspection, industry, public services, and research.

3. Cooperation in Education, Seminars, Exhibitions, and Technical Exchanges We will cooperate in promoting understanding of underwater drones and developing practical human resources through educational programs, seminars, exhibitions, and technical exchanges.

4. Cooperation for Joint Projects and Demonstrations As needed, the Japan Underwater Drone Association will provide expertise and advice for demonstrations and pilot initiatives led by DAEHAN EnC, assisting in the evaluation process for full-scale implementation.

5. Cooperation in Building a Promotion Framework in South Korea We will provide information and advice on system design, operational structures, and human resource development concepts to help build a framework for driving the growth of the underwater drone market in South Korea and to explore the future establishment of related organizations.

The MOU explicitly states cooperation toward the establishment (including feasibility studies) of a promotion organization.

Background of the Partnership Both Japan and South Korea face common challenges in the advanced maintenance and management of social infrastructure that includes underwater components, such as bridges, ports, river facilities, dams, and water/sewerage pipelines. Underwater drones are highly anticipated for their ability to improve safety, efficiency, and record-keeping, particularly in underwater or confined areas that are difficult for humans to inspect directly.

In initial discussions with DAEHAN EnC, the South Korean side identified specific topics, including the diagnosis of underwater structures such as dams, sluice gates, and bridges; the establishment of data acquisition systems necessary for building digital twins that include underwater sections; the selection of equipment for introduction; and the training of operational personnel.

As a precursor to these cooperative activities, the Japan Underwater Drone Association conducted underwater drone safe operation training for DAEHAN EnC staff in South Korea in February 2026. Through lectures on safe operation concepts, basic knowledge, fundamental piloting, and practical skills, the first step toward developing human resources for field implementation has been realized. This MOU is an agreement to continue and develop this cooperation further based on these practical experiences.

Comments from Representatives

Japan Underwater Drone Association, Representative Director Yasuhiro Kobayashi: "This MOU signing is a significant new step for the Japan Underwater Drone Association to cooperate with DAEHAN EnC’s efforts to promote and implement underwater drones in South Korea. Our association has been working on safe operations, human resource development, the expansion of certified schools, public awareness, and supporting social implementation within Japan. I am pleased that this agreement follows the safe operation training we conducted for DAEHAN EnC staff in South Korea. Moving forward, we will continue to leverage the knowledge we have cultivated in Japan to support the challenges taken on by DAEHAN EnC and help ensure the effectiveness of underwater drones is widely recognized in South Korea."

DAEHAN EnC, CEO Park Ju-kyung: "I am very pleased to have signed this MOU with the Japan Underwater Drone Association. DAEHAN EnC has been working on safety diagnostics, measurement, and maintenance in the social infrastructure sector in South Korea, and we believe that underwater drones hold great potential in this field. However, the regulatory and usage environment in South Korea is not yet fully developed, and we need to advance their popularization and implementation. In this context, it is very meaningful to be able to collaborate and learn from the Japan Underwater Drone Association, which has been a pioneer in this field. Through this partnership, I hope to contribute not only to the technological development of the underwater drone sector but also to the further development of cooperative relations between Japan and South Korea."