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Sungsimdang's famous 'soboro' bread may soon be baked by AI-powered machines, not human hands

Published: 27 May. 2026, 16:34

Fried "soboro" bread, a type of sweet bun [JOONGANG ILBO]

Sungsimdang's famed fried soboro bread, a type of sweet bun with a crunchy exterior and a soft, buttery filling, may soon be baked by AI-powered machines instead of human hands.

Sungsimdang, a popular bakery synonymous with Daejeon, plans to automate the entire production process of its fried soboro bread — from dough preparation and baking to packaging — using AI and robotics.

Founded in 1956 as a steamed bun shop near Daejeon Station, Sungsimdang has grown into a symbol of the city. It is famous for its fried soboro bread and “siru” cakes, which are layered with generous amounts of fruit, including strawberries, figs and mangoes, depending on the season.

The bakery expects the system to boost productivity by roughly 20 percent, easing the workload of employees who have long carried out repetitive tasks in high-temperature environments.

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan visited a Sungsimdang branch at a Lotte Department Store in the city on Wednesday to inspect a pilot program of an AI-powered smart factory system. He also discussed plans to accelerate the expansion of AI manufacturing technologies.

An automated AI-powered process for baking and preparing fried "soboro" bread, a type of sweet bun [MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND RESOURCES]

The government, which initially focused its AI transformation initiative on manufacturing sectors such as semiconductors, automobiles and shipbuilding, has broadened the push into everyday industries, including food production and services, since last year.

A total of 102 AI-powered factories have been established, with another 100 slated to roll out this year.

“We confirmed that the AI used to detect semiconductor defects and the AI used to identify flaws in the soboro bread are technologically very similar,” the minister said. “We will expand the initiative beyond manufacturing and across the economy.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JEONG JAE-HONG [[email protected]]