Measuring public willingness to pay for Urban Air Mobility: A national contingent valuation study in South Korea

Urban air mobility (UAM) has emerged as a promising solution to urban congestion and accessibility challenges. However, public valuation of UAM ecosystem development remains underexplored. This study estimates the perceived economic benefits of establishing a national UAM infrastructure in South Korea using a double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method based on a representative household survey. Results indicate that the average household is willing to pay KRW 37,784 (USD 27.22) annually to support UAM development, translating to an aggregate national economic value of approximately KRW 2.89 trillion (USD 2.08 billion) over five years. This amount exceeds the estimated early-stage implementation costs. Willingness to pay (WTP) is significantly influenced by income, age, and transport-related behaviors and expectations, such as travel distance, usage frequency, and stated preference for UAM. Regional differences in WTP were also observed, indicating the need for geographically differentiated deployment strategies. These findings suggest that public co-financing of UAM infrastructure may be feasible if services align with user-perceived benefits and targeted mobility needs. The study contributes to the emerging literature on UAM policy by offering robust empirical evidence of public support and actionable insights into strategic infrastructure investment and regulatory planning.