Introduced this season… Intersection of expectations and concerns
Introducing professional volleyball on hold, banning professional baseball
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A drone (in a circle) is flying around the stadium during the 2025-26 professional basketball game between Goyang Sono and Suwon KT held at Goyang Sono Arena in Gyeonggi Province on the 16th.
Drone filming, which was introduced to professional basketball this season, is raising both expectations and concerns. On the one hand, it has the advantage of enhancing the excitement and three-dimensional effect of TV broadcasting, but on the other hand, problems are being raised about the need for supplementary measures to prepare for safety accidents.
On the 16th, a drone was captured diligently following the players’ movements throughout the fourth quarter of the 2025-26 professional basketball game between Goyang Sono and Suwon KT held at Goyang Sono Arena in Gyeonggi Province. Drone filming was introduced by broadcasters starting this season to provide more vivid broadcasts.
The effects of drone filming were clear. Sports broadcasts play videos from various angles when replaying previous scenes, but drones had the advantage of showing the players’ movements from above, capturing scenes more clearly that could not be captured when viewed from the side.
The problem is that concerns about safety accidents in indoor stadiums cannot be erased. Due to the fast-paced and intense nature of basketball, drones move quickly back and forth across the playing field, so the wind they emit is quite strong. To catch the players, you have no choice but to fly low, and the stronger the wind around you. People who actually paid money to visit the stadium are hindered from watching.
There is always a risk of a fall accident occurring. This is why volleyball, an indoor sport, did not introduce drone filming. An official from the Korea Volleyball Federation explained on the 17th, “There was an idea from a broadcasting company to use drones this year, but if they crashed due to communication failure or poor control, it would cause damage to spectators and players, and we could not confirm the safety of drones, so the introduction was put on hold.”
The situation is the same for other domestic sports. In professional baseball, filming above the ground during a game is strictly prohibited. In the event of an accident, the broadcasting company is also responsible. Professional soccer also prohibits drones from entering the field during games.
The Korea Basketball Federation does not yet have clear regulations regarding liability for accidents. In response to this, the federation said, “We are currently operating with safety as our top priority, and we are quickly working on guidelines by codifying them,” and added, “We will continue to work with broadcasters to create good screens.”
Written and photographed by Reporter Jaemin Ryu
2025-12-18 Page 28
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