South Korea Plans Quantum Cloud Services, Flying Vehicle Test Flights

The government of South Korea has announced plans to launch quantum cloud services in the second half of 2024 and commence urban air mobility (UAM) test flights in August.

The New Growth 4.0 strategy was unveiled at an emergency ministerial meeting on economic affairs chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, according to the Chosun Post.

The plan includes giving private-sector businesses access to a domestically developed 20-qubit quantum computer cloud service in the second half of 2024. Longer-term plans target a 50-qubit quantum computer by 2026 and 1,000 qubits by 2032.

The South Korean government plans to begin verifying UAM flights in urban areas in August as a step toward commercializing next-generation UAM in 2025. UAM describes the use of small, automated passenger aircraft in urban or suburban areas.

To enable this, it plans to put in place regulatory exemptions for the test locations, the Ara Waterway, the Han River the Tancheon, secure the necessary frequencies for the tests, establish safety standards this year and advance the insurance system. The government is targeting the commercialization of fully autonomous flying vehicles by 2027.

The strategy also includes plans to open South Korea’s first fully automated port using unmanned container transport technology in Busan next month. The government is providing support to industry to advance other strategic industries including semiconductors, secondary batteries, displays, and shipbuilding.

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The ambitious plans include building the world’s largest semiconductor mega-cluster and launching an advanced semiconductor academy in collaboration with the Netherlands.