Daedong Targets Agricultural Drone Market with Three DJI Drone Models

Daedong has begun a full-scale push into the market by supplying three agricultural drone models from global drone company DJI to the domestic market. By offering close after-sales service (AS) through its nationwide network of about 150 dealerships and linking the drones with a precision agriculture platform, the company is expected to improve technology adoption in aging rural areas and accelerate the shift to data-driven farming.

According to Daedong, the domestic agricultural drone market is estimated at around 4,000 to 5,000 units annually and is growing rapidly as it is regarded as a key device for addressing labor shortages and improving pest-control efficiency.

In particular, global market research firm Grand View Research projected that the domestic agricultural drone market will grow from about $127 million in 2025 (approximately KRW 140 billion) to about $467.1 million in 2033 (approximately KRW 450 billion), recording a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.1%.
 

Agricultural drones soaring into a KRW 450 billion market… Daedong targets annual supply of 1,000 units
Through this market entry, Daedong plans to achieve annual sales of more than 1,000 units on average. At a time when there are only two official DJI distributors in Korea, Daedong’s nationwide service network of about 150 locations is expected to solve the chronic problem of delayed after-sales service in the existing drone distribution market.

The DJI agricultural drones supplied by Daedong consist of three models—T25, T50, and T70P—offering a segmented lineup tailored to farm size and working environment.

The compact T25 is suitable for small and medium-sized plots and has a payload capacity of 20 kg for liquid chemicals and 25 kg for granules. It can spray at up to 24 liters per minute and minimizes liquid leakage during movement by applying a solenoid valve system. The T50 is suitable for large-scale operations. This model boasts a payload capacity of 40 kg for spraying and 50 kg for spreading. Through dual atomized centrifugal nozzles, it enables precise spraying even across extensive farmland.

The T70P model (for extra-large operations) is equipped with a 70 kg chemical tank and a 70 kg granule tank, making it optimized for large complexes covering vast areas. It can spray up to 40 liters of chemicals per minute and spread 400 kg of granules per minute, while four water-cooled atomizing nozzles precisely control particle size.

In particular, the T25 and T50 models are equipped with surveying functions capable of mapping 10 to 13 hectares (about 30,000 to 40,000 pyeong) of farmland in just 10 minutes, as well as a binocular vision and radar combined detection system, supporting stable flight even in complex farmland environments with many obstacles.

Breaking through the field’s ‘maintenance’ and ‘accessibility’ barriers with an A/S network
Until now, the biggest obstacles to introducing advanced agtech equipment to farms have been delayed service and maintenance difficulties when breakdowns occur, as well as elderly farmers’ lack of familiarity with operation. Since timely pest control is critical for agricultural drones, even a few days of maintenance delay can lead to damage severe enough to ruin a year’s harvest. Daedong’s nationwide network of about 150 bases is expected to shorten parts procurement and on-site repair times.

Lee Gwang-wook, head of Daedong’s Domestic Business Division, said, “With this drone supply as a turning point, we are also reviewing ways to expand technological cooperation with DJI and enhance connectivity with our precision agriculture services,” adding, “Going forward, we will advance data-based services that connect work history and spraying data secured from DJI agricultural drones, as well as farmland crop condition information, with our precision agriculture platform to support diagnosis, prescription, and execution of farm operations.”

Attention is focused on whether this drone supply initiative will lead to the creation of the data-driven agricultural ecosystem Daedong is pursuing and bear fruit in the form of higher farm income and relief from labor shortages.