32 participants from fifth graders to adults compete Sunday after basic piloting lesson; 3×3 LED bingo-style matches and VR/AR experience zone draw families
Dongdaemun-gu in Seoul successfully held the "2026 Dongdaemun-gu Pop Drone Battle" at the district office's multipurpose auditorium on Sunday, the district said.
The event was designed to spark residents' interest in emerging technologies and give them a hands-on opportunity to pilot and experience cutting-edge future tech.
A total of 32 participants — ranging from fifth-grade elementary school students to adults — took part in the spirited competition.
Matches were divided into a youth division and an open division, each played as a single-elimination individual tournament. Competitors piloted unmanned aircraft, known as pop drones, racing to fill the squares of a 3×3 electronic LED bingo board on the arena floor before their opponent could.
To ensure that even complete beginners could join without hesitation, the district held a basic piloting lesson before the main competition began. A virtual reality and augmented reality experience zone was also set up on the sidelines, offering entertainment not only to competitors but also to residents and families who came to watch.
At the awards ceremony held after all matches concluded, eight standout participants were recognized — in each division, one first-place winner, one second-place winner and two encouragement-prize recipients received awards.
Dongdaemun-gu District Mayor Choi Dong-min said he hoped the event gave participants a welcoming introduction to drone technology and a sense of accomplishment from taking on a new challenge. "Going forward, we will actively expand learning opportunities so that residents can easily encounter and experience new future technologies in their daily lives — not only drones, but also AI, robots and more," he said.
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