South Korean Police to Pilot AI- and Drone-Equipped Kia PV5 Patrol Vehicles

South Korean police plan to pilot AI-powered patrol vehicles based on the Kia PV5 in the Seoul metropolitan area’s preventive patrol units starting June 2026. The vehicle features a black-and-white body with blue and yellow graphic livery and an elevated structure on the roof housing a drone launch and docking system. Upon arriving at a scene, the roof mechanism automatically opens to deploy an AI-equipped police drone fitted with a thermal imaging camera and a 90x optical zoom camera. This drone carries out aerial patrols, tracks suspects, and searches for missing persons in areas inaccessible to vehicles or officers. After completing its mission, the drone autonomously returns to its rooftop bay and recharges using the vehicle’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) external power supply function. Additionally, the roof is equipped with three AI-powered cameras providing 360-degree, blind-spot-free surveillance. The AI system can instantly identify suspicious individuals in crowds based on characteristics such as clothing and accessories, flagging potential matches. It also detects armed individuals, identifies fallen or injured persons, and monitors crowd density in public spaces, issuing alerts to law enforcement when overcrowding risks arise.