In a bold move to take the lead in the emerging humanoid robotics industry, South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) has officially launched the “K-Humanoid Alliance.” The inauguration ceremony was held with more than 350 participants, including Minister Ahn Duk-geun and Seoul National University President Yoo Hong-lim.

During the event, approximately 40 major companies and universities signed a cooperation agreement. Through this initiative, the government plans to invest over approximately USD 770 million(KRW 1 trillion) by 2030 to support humanoid development.

Many AI experts believe that the age of physical AI will soon follow that of generative AI, with humanoid robots expected to be the next battleground for global tech giants. Although South Korea has demonstrated strong technical capabilities—frequently winning accolades in international robotics competitions—the country still lags significantly behind the United States and China in terms of investment and workforce.

Industry leaders and experts agree that catching up to global tech titans will require comprehensive government support and a unified ecosystem. MOTIE aims to use the launch of the alliance as a springboard to significantly expand public support and foster synergy among industry, academia, and research institutes.

The alliance brings together 40 of Korea’s top companies and universities. Participating organizations are divided into six specialized groups based on their areas of expertise. A central steering committee composed of group representatives will coordinate cooperation and decision-making within the alliance.

From academia, leading research teams in robotics and AI from Seoul National University, KAIST, Korea University, Yonsei University, and POSTECH have joined. On the corporate front, key players such as Rainbow Robotics, Aeirobot, Holiday Robotics, We Robotics, BlueRobin, Robros, Angel Robotics, and Neuromeka are among the core members. Major conglomerates including LG Electronics, Doosan Robotics, and HD Hyundai Robotics have also joined the alliance.

The alliance’s first major objective is to develop a “robot AI foundation model”—the brain of future humanoids—by 2028. The goal is to create an AI platform that can be jointly utilized by various robot manufacturers.

The second mission is to develop humanoid hardware that meets the highest global specifications. By 2028, manufacturers aim to produce lightweight robots (under 60kg), with high degrees of freedom (50+), heavy payload capacity (20kg+), and rapid mobility (2.5m/s+). Development will also include core components such as sensors and actuators. Collaborations between robotics manufacturers and parts companies are planned to develop high-performance force/torque sensors, tactile sensors for hand sensitivity, and lightweight yet flexible actuators combining motors, controllers, and gear reducers.

MOTIE plans to allocate approx. USD 150 million(KRW 200 billion) in 2025 to support R&D, infrastructure, and testing initiatives for humanoid development. Shared infrastructure accessible to robot manufacturers will also be established.

The alliance’s third key task is to develop specialized semiconductors and batteries for humanoid robots. Companies such as Rebellions and DEEPX will focus on high-performance, low-power AI chips, while Korea’s battery giants—SK On, LG Energy Solution, and Samsung SDI—will develop high-density, long-lasting, and safe battery solutions. These efforts will be coordinated in close collaboration with robotics companies to ensure integration and optimization.

Additionally, MOTIE plans to support collaboration between robot suppliers and end-user companies through its ongoing “AI Autonomous Manufacturing Flagship Project.” Starting this year, joint projects that use humanoid robots to radically improve manufacturing processes will be eligible for government support, including R&D and financing.

Minister Ahn Duk-geun emphasized the urgency and significance of the initiative, stating, “Humanoids are not only projected to grow from USD 1.5 billion in 2025 to USD 38 billion by 2035, a 25-fold increase in just a decade, but they also directly impact the future competitiveness of our manufacturing sector. We must enter the global race without delay.”
He added, “With the collective will of Korea’s best minds from academia, industry, and research, the Ministry will do everything in its power to support the K-Humanoid Alliance and ensure Korea becomes a global leader in humanoid robotics.”