[Job Interview] Director Ahn Won-ki – EP 2. Story of establishing drone delivery centers nationwide
EP 2. Story of establishing a nationwide drone delivery center
Q. What kind of business is the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s drone delivery demonstration project?
With drones emerging in various war situations, at the government level
A movement to expand the drone market has begun,
Among them, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s drone delivery demonstration project is focused on delivery.
The point is, It means that it needs to be pre-verified at the national level before it can be commercialized.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is working on a five-year roadmap,
The goal is to complete the first demonstration phase by 2027.
In short, the business structure, The central government allocates state funds, and local governments organize local expenses in a one-on-one match.
With that budget, we build drone delivery infrastructure such as control buildings, logistics buildings, and take-off and landing pads,
Starting with that infrastructure, we are pioneering a drone delivery route in the Korean sky.
WEFLO is currently responding to all 19 local governments.
Q. What process does it go through to build a delivery center?
Technical evaluation from participation in bidding, The contract is administrative,
Since then, it is a practical practice to build drone delivery infrastructure directly on the site.
Based on one base, it takes as little as a week, and as much as two weeks.
It’s not a flat Ascon or cement floor, but a dirt floor, a mountain midway, etc
Most of them are sloping, so we need to build them customized for the site.
About 8 people will be put in, including WEFLO and its partners,
Research personnel will also enter the site because the WEFLO inspection pad will also be installed together.
I work with an impact drill on the set.
When the officials in charge come out, there are many companies that usually only send partners,
At first, he was surprised when he came out to the team leader level and was screwing himself.
But I think those parts have become the strong trust we have now.
Q. Do you have any memorable episodes while traveling around the country?
It was when I entered Deokjeokdo Island in Incheon in the fall of 2024.
It’s a wire that can fit into the car, loading all the materials, and getting off on the island,
The moment it fell, it started to rain.
It rained before I unloaded all the materials, so I thought I’d stop eating lunch,
I didn’t stop eating lunch, and I didn’t stop until dinner.
So, on that day, close to 10 people with partners and WEFLO staff
I rented a pension and was stuck in the pension from lunch to dinner.
Fortunately, the sun rose the next day and I finished quickly,
This often happens because it’s a field job.
I have a lot of good memories.
Drone infrastructure is always built in the best part of the municipality.
The best place to build is Jeju Island’s Geumneung Cooperative Base, and the second is Ulju Yeongnam Alps.
The top of the mountain is all reed fields in Yeongnam Alps, and it is a very famous place among mountain climbers.
We usually have to walk for three hours, but we went up by car for business.
Q. The WEFLO inspection padCan you also tell me the process of changing from ‘recommendation’ to ‘duty’?
In 2024, it was enough even if there was an inspection pad or not.
It was in the form of a recommendation.
But as the government changed, the issue of safety was highlighted.
There is a serious disaster punishment law, and all projects carried out by the state are “First, safety, second, and third, safety.” This trend became clear.
Drones don’t always fly well, they fall,
GPS cuts off and runs away, and if it falls into a private house, it leads to a big accident.
So until 2025, we recommend,Transition to mandatory starting in 2026That’s all right.
This year, I’ll be participating in this projectMandatory installation of WEFLO inspection pads by all local governmentsYou have to.
Continuous local governments that did not exist before also need to be newly installed this year.
No competitors can make automatic drone inspection pads right now.
It’s WEFLO’s unique technology.
And it doesn’t end with drones, it’s industrial robots,
Whether it’s other mobility or where the driver needs to be checked
It is a technology that can be expanded anywhere, so it is also a technology with versatility.
Q. How is your normal day going?
It depends on the timing.
At the time when we are preparing to bid for a new local government
Documentation, consultation, and persuasion are the most of the day.
Local governments that are new to it have no experience, so they have to guide RFP,
Other local government cases should also be explained.
There are days when I end up talking on the phone all day long.
This year alone, new local governmentsThere are 7 consecutive local governments and 19 local governments,
Each local government has different timing of bidding, contracting, and construction.
Some are preparing to bid, some are in contract stage, and others are in construction.
I go to all those local governments and respond, so there are a lot of long-distance driving and quite a few people who go alone.
the summer seasonMore than half of the year is on a business trip (April to November).
It starts at 7 a.m. on site and builds by 5 p.m,
In winter, it is time to take out administrative tasks such as completion reports and inspection reports,
January-March is the pre-meeting season for next year.
Q. When was the most rewarding moment?
It was built around local governments in the hot summer,
If you go back to the local government to submit a completion report in autumn and winter
From the officials in charge to the officials in charge, they really welcome me.
It was awkward at first, Now that we’re in our third year, we can meet at the fair,
The response is definitely different regardless of whether I met him at the government office building.
“Hurry up and tell WEFLO. There’s nothing you can’t say there.”
When I hear this, I don’t think I went around unnecessarily.
The network between the public officials is all connected,
When a new local government starts a business, we check the reputation with the local government that has already been carried out.
The answer that came back was, “Just do it with WIFE.”
I think that’s the result of our humble attitude and sincere on-site response.
Q. When the project is completed in 2027, what kind of paintings are you drawing after that?
North Jeolla Province, We are trying to lay the foundation for the business of physical AI in connection with Jeonju City.
We have been operating a business in Jeonju, our headquarters, for a long time, and we have created a technology research institute,
Since the factory has been registered, it is a natural direction to expand the business based on Jeonju and Jeonbuk.
Most of them are in Seoul·Since it is concentrated in the economy, there are not many companies that can work together in the provinces.
So, if you establish yourself as a local company, cooperation with local governments will be stronger,
I think it will be easier to find government projects.
Q. What do you want to look like in 10 years?
Since I’ve been out of town for years, I want to live in a place with good nature.
Originally, I had that thought a little, but looking around the country, there were many good places.
It’s not a big apartment, but a life of stepping on the ground even if it’s small.
I think that will happen.
I’m sure he’s doing anything.
I don’t know what’s going on.
That’s what I think.
When one door closes in life, one door opens.
But the door opens regardless of my will,
It might be held in a place that has nothing to do with my career.
I think it’s fate if you open that door and go in.
The Whipple was one of those doors.
There will be another door in 10 years.
You just have to go in and live hard.