This September, Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, the birthplace of drone soccer, will host a festival for drone soccer players.
According to the city of Jeonju on Tuesday, the 2025 Jeonju Drone Soccer World Cup will be held from September 25 to 28 over four days at the Drone Sports Complex Center and its surrounding area.
Drone soccer is a new concept sport developed in 2017 by Jeonju and the Jeonju CAMTIC Advanced Institute of Technology. Combining drones and soccer, it is a thrilling sport with high educational value, fostering creativity and coding skills. It has gained significant popularity, with approximately 2,000 amateur teams currently active in South Korea and strong interest from over 30 countries worldwide.
The city has been promoting the hosting of the Drone Soccer World Cup to expand the culture of drone leisure sports and lay the groundwork for growth in related industries.
The 2025 Jeonju Drone Soccer World Cup, the first of its kind worldwide, is expected to attract about 2,500 participants from 32 countries.
The main matches will be held at the Drone Sports Complex Center in Deokjin-gu, Yeoui-dong, which is scheduled to be completed in May. Demonstration events will also be held, such as the Clashing Tournament and Shooter Pilot Selection Tournament. The city plans to install a large dome within the Jeonju World Cup Stadium and prepare 13 special competition arenas for smooth match operations.
The 2025 International Drone Industry Conference will also take place on September 25 and 26. The main programs include a Knowledge Policy Forum, a Drone Company Exhibition Hall, a seminar on developing core technologies and localizing components for the drone industry, a drone delivery and advanced technology seminar, and a photo and video exhibition featuring drones.
Various artistic performances will be held during the World Cup, including drone breakdancing collaborations, drone circuses, drone-fused traditional Korean music performances, and drone calligraphy. Interactive experiences will also be available, allowing anyone to easily engage with and enjoy drones.
A Jeonju city official stated, “This event is an important opportunity for Jeonju to establish itself as a leading city in the future drone industry. It is also significant for South Korea’s rise as a global drone powerhouse. We will do our best to ensure the success of the first Drone Soccer World Cup, hosted in Jeonju, the birthplace of drone soccer, and to solidify the city’s position as a leader in drone leisure sports.”