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Industry Ministry calls humanoid robots tech's next 'battleground' with M.AX

Published: 05 Mar. 2026, 13:20 Updated: 05 Mar. 2026, 19:13

Hyundai Motor Group's Atlas humanoid robots are on display at the group's booth at the CES technology show, one of the world's largest IT and home appliance trade fairs, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 7. [YONHAP]

The government on Thursday discussed ways to strengthen the competitiveness of the country's humanoid robot industry in a special meeting with officials from robotics companies and industry experts, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said.

The meeting, convened by the Industry Ministry, gathered companies participating in the Manufacturing AI Alliance (M.AX), including Hyundai Motor, Robros and Yuil Robotics, as well as robotics experts from research institutes and academia.

M.AX is a government-led alliance launched last year to connect major companies with artificial intelligence firms to foster AI transformation of manufacturing industries.

The alliance aims to develop a foundation AI model for humanoid robots for industrial use by 2028 and begin producing at least 1,000 robots annually from 2029.

In Thursday's meeting, government officials and private industry representatives discussed various measures to advance Korea's humanoid robot ecosystem, such as the independent development of core robot equipment and streamlining of regulations, with a goal of making the country one of the top three global leaders in the sector, the ministry said.

The global humanoid robot market has been showing sharp growth recently, with annual humanoid robotics sales across the world surpassing $500 million for the first time last year.

The global market is expected to increase almost ninefold to $4.4 billion in 2027.

"Just as Atlas received worldwide acclaim at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show, humanoid robots will soon become the new battleground among global big tech companies," said Kim Sung-yeol, director general for industrial growth at the ministry, vowing expanded support for the sector.

Atlas is a humanoid robot developed by Korean motor giant Hyundai's U.S. affiliate Boston Dynamics.

Yonhap