The South Korean government plans to establish a delivery service system by 2030 that ensures people across the country receive packages within 24 hours and eliminate delivery blind spots.

“Delivery is a vital service that is closely related to day-to-day lives,” said an official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Thursday. “We will ensure equal delivery services without regional discrimination.”

The government‘s plan includes designating remote and rural areas, which often experience additional delivery charges or delays, as ”logistically vulnerable areas.“

Under the plan, the government will provide support for delivery to these areas, including partial financial support for delivery fees for residents.

The government will also expand logistics infrastructure, such as urban micro-fulfillment centers (MFCs), and increase the number of smart logistics centers that use advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robots, to reduce the time needed to collect and sort shipments.

The goal will be to expand fast delivery, such as overnight, same day, or next day delivery, across the country.

Efforts will also be made to ease regulations concerning freight transportation, enabling a single delivery person to handle packages from multiple delivery companies.

The government also plans to advance the logistics mobility industry such as by supporting the early commercialization of unmanned delivery options like robots and drones.

It also aims to foster the development of various logistics mobility technologies such as subway-based delivery.

In order to support innovation in the sector, funds raised by the Ministry of Transport will be allocated for investment in smart logistics start-ups and talent development in related segments.

The government will also provide support for logistics companies to integrate with other relevant industries, such as construction, manufacturing and equipment, for overseas expansion.

By Hong Hae-jin and Chang Iou-chung

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]