South Korea Plans to Develop a Human-Like AI Humanoid by 2030

South Korea has announced a major national project to develop a representative Korean AI humanoid that can think and move like a human by 2030.

The Ministry of Science and ICT held the kickoff meeting for the AI Humanoid Core Technology Advancement Project at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) in Seoul on the 18th. The initiative is part of the government’s K-Moonshot program for scientific and technological innovation, with a total investment of 50.4 billion won planned from this year through 2030.

The goal is to create a humanoid robot that can be used in real-life environments much like a human worker.

Building a robot that understands human intent

During the kickoff workshop, KIST principal researcher Yang Sang-wook introduced the humanoid model KAPEX, which is currently under development at the institute. He said the project aims to go beyond robots that simply lift objects and instead create one that can understand human intent and respond accordingly.

KIST Humanoid Research Center Director Lee Jong-won said many domestic researchers and companies currently depend on humanoid platforms developed by China’s Unitree. He added that the new project aims to build a trustworthy Korean humanoid platform that can be widely used in practical settings.

The project team plans to integrate artificial intelligence, hardware, and other core technologies by 2028. It also aims to produce more than 20 humanoid robots and begin full-scale demonstrations from 2029, with Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital serving as the main test site.

These robots are expected to take on tasks such as hospital cleaning, waste sorting, organizing supplies, and delivering items within wards.

Long working hours remain a challenge

Lee said humanoid robots around the world still have a low task completion rate, with most systems able to work only about 3 to 4 minutes a day on repetitive tasks. He said the new Korean project hopes to develop a humanoid capable of working for 8 hours a day and operating continuously for more than a month.

Several leading Korean research institutions and companies are taking part in the project. KAIST professor Park Hae-won’s team is focusing on full-body robot movement technology, while Seoul National University professor Park Jae-heung’s team is developing remote interface technology that would allow operators to control robots more freely.

Industry support for mass production

LG Electronics will support the development of mass production technology for the humanoid hardware. LG Energy Solution will work on safe all-solid-state battery packs for the robots, while Robostar, an LG Electronics subsidiary, will handle the operation and maintenance of the robots once they are deployed.

Researchers are also working on AI models that can help humanoids move more naturally and make better decisions. KAIST’s Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI is developing technology to convert human movements in video into robot motion data. Meanwhile, LG AI Research is building a foundation model for humanoid robots that can make autonomous decisions and hold conversations.

A national push for global competitiveness

Although commercialization is still a long-term challenge, officials say strong collaboration between universities, research centers, and companies will be essential. KIST President Oh Sang-rok said public-private cooperation played a major role in China’s rise in advanced manufacturing and stressed that Korea must enter the humanoid market with a one-team strategy.

Director Lee Jong-won also said that connecting the country’s top researchers will be crucial for Korea’s leap forward in the AI humanoid sector.