The K-Humanoid Alliance () is a

humanoid robot A humanoid robot is a robot resembling the human body in shape. The design may be for functional purposes, such as interacting with human tools and environments and working alongside humans, for experimental purposes, such as the study of bipeda ...

research and development alliance of government, academic, and robot manufacturing companies, and was launched in April 2025. Major South Korean robot manufacturing companies, small and medium-sized companies related to parts, software companies, and universities are part of the alliance.

Overview

As global investment in

humanoid robots A humanoid robot is a robot resembling the human body in shape. The design may be for functional purposes, such as interacting with human tools and environments and working alongside humans, for experimental purposes, such as the study of bipedal ...

rapidly grew, South Korean government saw the need to consolidate the capabilities of the humanoid ecosystem and planned the alliance organization. On April 10, 2025, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held the K-Humanoid Alliance launch ceremony at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul. Minister Ahn Duk-geun and

Seoul National University Seoul National University (SNU; ) is a public university, public research university in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the SKY (universities), SKY universities and a part of the Flagship Korean National Universities. The university's main c ...

President Yoo Hong-rim attended the event, and AI robot experts, the country's robot manufacturing companies such as Rainbow Robotics, and affiliates of large corporations such as

LG Electronics LG Electronics Inc. () is a South Korean Multinational corporation, multinational major appliance and consumer electronics corporation headquartered in Yeouido-dong, Seoul, South Korea. LG Electronics is a part of LG, LG Corporation, the fourth ...

and Doosan Robotics participated in the alliance.

Plan

Researchers from SNU's AI Research Institute, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST),

Yonsei University Yonsei University () is a Private university, private Christian university, Christian research university located in Seoul, South Korea. Yonsei is one of the three most prestigious universities in the country, part of a group referred to as SK ...

, and

Korea University Korea University (KU, ) is a Private university, private research university in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1905 by Yi Yong-ik, Lee Yong-Ik, a prominent official of the Korean Empire, Korea University is among South Korea's oldest List of ...

plan to collaborate to develop a common AI model that will be installed on robots by 2028. This is a plan to develop an AI module that corresponds to the brain of a robot and link it with a physical AI that physically implements it. The alliance plans to develop a commercial

that can lift objects weighing 20 kg or more, weighs less than 60 kg, has more than 50 joints, and moves at a speed of 2.5 m/s or faster by 2028 through its own development or through cooperative projects. Semiconductor and battery companies participated, and large-scale

research and development Research and development (R&D or R+D), known in some countries as OKB, experiment and design, is the set of innovative activities undertaken by corporations or governments in developing new services or products. R&D constitutes the first stage ...

projects for the development of AI semiconductors for on-device will be led by the MOTIE. The MOTIE plans to launch a humanoid fund by 2025. In addition, by having 20 major domestic universities, including SNI and KAIST, participate in the alliance, it plans to foster excellent talent by providing undergraduate students with opportunities to directly and indirectly participate in major projects being carried out by the alliance.

Participating organizations

Participating robotics companies include: * Holiday Robotics * Rainbow Robotics * Doosan Robotics * A Robot * Wonik Robotics * Werobotics * Blue Robin * Robros * Angel Robotics * Neuromeca * Aideen Robotics * Robotis * HD Hyundai Robotics Other participating companies include: * Samsung SDI * SK On *

LG Energy Solution LG Energy Solution Ltd. (LGES; ) is a battery company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. LGES is one of the largest battery makers in the world alongside CATL, Panasonic, SK Innovation, and Samsung SDI. History LG Chem Energy Solution Busi ...

* DEEPX * Tesolo * Faraday Dynamics * Komotech * SBB Tech * Samsung Display *

HD Hyundai Mipo HD Hyundai Mipo (abbreviated: HMD; ) is one of the largest shipbuilding companies with the world's largest share (50%) in PC (Product Carrier) segment. Since the 1980s, more than 10,000 ships were repaired and converted until 2005 and 400 newly ...

Samsung Heavy Industries Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. () is one of the largest shipbuilders in the world and one of the "Big Three" shipbuilders of South Korea (including Hyundai and Hanwha). Geoje (in South Gyeongsang Province) is one of the largest shipyards ...

* CJ Logistics * POSCO E&C * POSCO Holdings

References

{{Electronics industry in South Korea 2025 in South Korea Humanoid robots Robots of South Korea

Overview

Plan

Participating organizations

See also

References