The government-led manufacturing alliance, comprising Samsung, Hyundai, and LG, aims for humanoid mass production by 2029 through a new R&D partnership with the country’s top university.
LG Electronics and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have unveiled KAPEX, a next-generation humanoid robot designed to learn and adapt in real-world environments, marking a major push to compete in the global race for 'physical AI'.
South Korean logistics firm CJ Logistics has partnered with Rainbow Robotics to develop AI-powered humanoid robots capable of autonomous decision-making for warehouse operations. Rainbow Robotics will supply hardware, while CJ Logistics focuses on developing 'Agentic AI' and identifying tasks for field tests planned later this year.
South Korea has launched the K-Humanoid Alliance, uniting over 40 academic institutions, research bodies, and private companies like LG, Doosan, and Rainbow Robotics. Backed by government funding, the initiative aims to make the country a global leader in humanoid robotics by 2030, focusing on developing foundational AI models and core components like sensors and actuators.