Korean pilot Choi Wonkyun wins World Drone Cup at TEKNOFEST Southeast

South Korean FPV drone pilot Choi Wonkyun won the World Drone Championship on Saturday after four days of competition at the TEKNOFEST Southeast World Drone Cup.

Choi claimed the title ahead of compatriot Kim Minjae, who finished second, while Bulgaria's Dimo Shterev took third. They were awarded their prizes by T3 Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman and TEKNOFEST Executive Board Chairman Selcuk Bayraktar, Turkish Secretary of Defense Industries Haluk Gorgun and STM General Manager Ozgur Guleryuz.

“I’m really happy to win this competition,” Choi said after the final, thanking his coach and uncle for helping him prepare.

He said preparing for the competition had been difficult but added that he would return to defend his title.

Runner-up Kim said he had opportunities to finish first during the opening rounds but missed his chance.

“It’s obviously totally my fault, and I’m just really disappointed in myself,” he said, adding that he would return stronger next time.

Kim also thanked his parents and sponsors for supporting his participation.

Shterev described his third-place finish as “amazing” and “a bit unexpected” following what he called a disappointing qualifying performance.

“I pushed through the finals. I keep increasing my pace, I keep believing in myself and I keep working on my consistency,” he said.

Shterev also thanked his parents, sponsors and his team, ROC Special in China, for helping him prepare for the race.

A total of 32 drone pilots from around the world competed in the championship, which began Oct. 1, using high-speed first-person-view (FPV) drones they designed and assembled themselves.

The pilots tested their speed, reflexes and control skills on a challenging course that featured moving gates this year.

Türkiye’s prime aviation, space and technology festival TEKNOFEST opened its doors to visitors on Wednesday, this time in the nation’s southeastern province of Sanliurfa.

TEKNOFEST Southeast, a leg of the event held in the southeastern part of the country, brings together tech enthusiasts, young investors and thousands of visitors for various shows, exhibitions and the finals of tech competitions across 14 categories from Wednesday through Oct. 4.