South Korea has launched the K-Humanoid Alliance, a national initiative aimed at strengthening its position in humanoid robotics by 2030 through coordinated public and private sector collaboration. The launch event was held on April 10 at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul’s Jung District and was hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Approximately 350 representatives from academia, industry, and research institutions attended the ceremony.
The alliance comprises over 40 organizations, including leading academic institutions such as Seoul National University, KAIST, Korea University, Yonsei University, and Pohang University of Science and Technology (Postech). Twelve robotics manufacturers have signed the cooperation agreement, among them Rainbow Robotics—recently acquired by Samsung Electronics—HD Hyundai Robotics, which holds the largest share of South Korea’s industrial robot market, and Doosan Robotics. Other robotics participants include Aeirobot, Angel Robotics, and Neuromeka.
In addition to robotics firms, the alliance includes the nation’s three major battery manufacturers—LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI—which will contribute to battery development for humanoid systems. Semiconductor firms such as Rebellions and DEEPX are also participating to support computing capabilities essential for advanced robot AI.
The alliance is structured into two main divisions: artificial intelligence and robot manufacturing. The AI division is led by Zhang Byoung-Tak, director of Seoul National University’s AI Institute, while Han Jeakweon, a robotics professor at Hanyang University, heads the robotics hardware division. These teams, supported by university experts, will collaborate on the development of a foundational AI model for humanoid robots by 2028.
The alliance’s hardware goals include the development of high-performance humanoid robots weighing under 60 kilograms, with more than 50 joints, payload capacities exceeding 20 kilograms, and the ability to move at speeds of over 2.5 meters per second.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will fund alliance activities through existing R&D, infrastructure, and testing programs. Collaborative projects involving multiple alliance members will receive priority for support. The ministry also plans to expand the current robotics budget of 200 billion won (approximately $137 million) and will continue consultations with relevant ministries and the National Assembly.
Minister Ahn Dukgeun stated at the ceremony that the global humanoid robotics market is forecast to grow from $1.5 billion in 2025 to $38 billion by 2035. He emphasized the sector’s relevance to the future of South Korea’s manufacturing competitiveness and reiterated the government’s full support for the alliance’s objectives.
Earlier, Hyundai Motor Group announced plans to expand its use of robotics across its operations by purchasing “tens of thousands” of robots from Boston Dynamics, including the Atlas humanoid, the Spot quadruped, and the Stretch logistics robot. The move is part of a broader strategy to integrate advanced robotics into Hyundai’s manufacturing processes and enhance productivity through automation and AI.
According to the company, Atlas will be deployed across Hyundai’s factories as part of this expansion. The partnership will also involve leveraging Hyundai’s manufacturing expertise to support Boston Dynamics’ production capabilities. This development follows Hyundai’s $21 billion investment pledge in the United States, including a $6 billion allocation for innovation and strategic collaborations. Hyundai acquired Boston Dynamics in 2021 and is now positioned to become its largest customer.
