Name: Humanoids: South Korea charts an unusual robotics path
Uploaded: 2026-01-22T09:01:52.681Z
Duration: 2 min 34 s
Description: Humanoid robots are entering factories and homes worldwide. With the global robotics race heating up, South Korea is betting on an unconventional strategy to lead.

Humanoid robots are entering factories and homes worldwide. With the global robotics race heating up, South Korea is betting on an unconventional strategy to lead.

Seoul

South Korea is advancing its robotics industry by focusing on humanoid robots for various applications, including factory work, elderly care, and entertainment. The nation has established a strategic alliance among domestic companies and invested hundreds of millions of dollars, with a goal of achieving mass production of humanoids by 2029.

The country's approach emphasizes cooperation over competition, extending its value chain internationally through moves like Hyundai's acquisition of Boston Dynamics. While functional safety remains a challenge for home use, South Korea's government-led initiative aims to position the nation ahead of rivals in China and the United States, with leadership in safety, speed, and innovation as key factors.

Humanoids: South Korea charts an unusual robotics path

These robots are versatile. Some move parts in factories, others assist with household chores, care for the elderly, or simply entertain by dancing and waving. South Korea's robotics game is strong. Their first domestic humanoid robot, Hubo, won a global prize in 2015. They also have care robots, like Hyodol, and it's a hit with the country's aging population. To outpace global rivals, South Korea has formed a strategic alliance among its companies to propel the nation towards global leadership in humanoid manufacturing. There's a lot at stake. South Korea wants to establish itself as a leader in humanoids, autonomous vehicles, and smart factories, and there's hundreds of millions of dollars poured into this. Their mandate is mass production by 2029. It's a difficult task in a competitive environment where Chinese and US companies are trying to get ahead. Seoul's goal is to get competitors to cooperate. Instead of having these organizations and companies competing with each other, unlike different ecosystems and countries or industries out there, we try to bring a one single value chain, so we can, of course, compete within the chain. This value chain already extends beyond borders. Hyundai's 2021 acquisition of US-based Boston Dynamics is a prime example. Only recently, the Massachusetts-based company presented the new electric Atlas humanoid, demonstrating its ability to manipulate car parts with precision. Soon these humanoids will help assemble vehicles at Hyundai's electric vehicle facility near Savannah, Georgia in the US. But when will we see them in our homes? I think we're a couple of years away from humanoid robots entering our home. One of the reasons is that functional safety for humanoid robots is in its infancy. Humanoids' rapid development has many wondering what that could potentially mean for the human workforce in industrial settings. Will robots soon largely replace humans in factories? How will the humanoid race continue to develop? South Korea and its Max Humanoid Alliance will have to prove that a government-led approach to innovation can bring faster results compared to private competitors in China and the US. It's a tight race in which safety, speed and global competition will decide who leads the way in the humanoids' race.

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