South Korea’s top robotics companies, artificial intelligence specialists, and government bodies are joining forces to develop humanoid robots tailored to the country’s manufacturing environment. On Apr. 10, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the launch of the “K-Humanoid Alliance,” a consortium comprising more than 40 domestic robotics manufacturers, component suppliers, and research institutions. At the launch event, participating organizations signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) pledging to collaborate on the joint development of humanoid AI systems.
Twelve robotics manufacturers signed the agreement, including Rainbow Robotics—acquired by Samsung Electronics—HD Hyundai Robotics, which holds the largest share of South Korea’s industrial robot market, and Doosan Robotics. The nation’s three major battery makers—LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI—also joined the initiative to support battery development for humanoids. They were joined by semiconductor companies such as Rebellions and DEEPX.
From the academic sector, 15 of South Korea’s leading experts in robotics AI, including Seoul National University professor Jang Byung-tak, will participate in the initiative. Starting in the second half of this year, they will lead the development of a “robot AI foundation model” that will function as the central processing system for Korean-style humanoid robots. Participating companies are expected to support the effort by sharing robot hardware or proprietary datasets with the AI development teams. Seven additional firms—including LG Electronics and CJ Logistics, which plan to integrate humanoids into key production processes—will also contribute to the project.
Humanoid robots, which are designed to resemble and function like humans, are equipped with artificial intelligence systems capable of autonomous decision-making and action. They are expected to become a cornerstone of next-generation manufacturing. Although South Korea possesses strong capabilities in robotics hardware, the country has faced criticism for lagging behind the United States and China in terms of investment and workforce dedicated to independent robot AI development and hardware integration. The new alliance reflects an effort by government, industry, and academia to address this gap through coordinated action.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun said, “The humanoid robot market is projected to grow from $1.5 billion in 2025 to $38 billion by 2035—a 25-fold increase over the next decade. As this is directly linked to the future competitiveness of our manufacturing sector, we must accelerate efforts to compete globally.”
