Journalist

박세진
Choe Chong-dae
  • KAIST develops AI training method that learns human preferences with less data
    KAIST develops AI training method that learns human preferences with less data SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a new artificial intelligence training method that allows AI systems to learn human preferences more accurately using far less data, even in noisy or uncertain conditions. KAIST said on December 17 that a research team led by Kim Jun-mo has created a reinforcement learning framework called Teacher Value-based Knowledge Distillation, or TVKD. The approach improves how AI systems align their decisions with human judgment, a long-standing challenge in fields ranging from large language models to recommendation systems. Conventional preference-based AI training relies heavily on large volumes of comparison data, such as choosing whether option A is better than option B. While effective in controlled settings, the method often breaks down when data is limited or when human judgments are inconsistent, causing unstable learning and unreliable outcomes. The KAIST team addressed this problem by introducing a “teacher-student” structure. In the new framework, a teacher model first learns how valuable different choices are across full contexts, rather than relying on simple comparisons. The teacher then passes this distilled information to a student model, which learns more efficiently and consistently. Instead of copying binary judgments like “good” or “bad,” the student model learns why a decision is better by inheriting the teacher’s value-based evaluation. This allows the AI to make more balanced decisions in ambiguous situations and reduces confusion caused by conflicting data. The researchers also designed the system to account for the reliability of preference data. Clear and consistent data is given more weight during training, while noisy or uncertain inputs are downplayed. This helps the AI remain stable in real-world environments where human feedback is often imperfect. Tests across multiple AI benchmarks showed that the new method outperformed existing state-of-the-art approaches. The framework delivered stronger and more stable results on widely used evaluation tools such as MT-Bench and AlpacaEval. Kim said the method reflects how learning works in practice, where perfect data is rarely available. He added that the framework could be applied across a wide range of AI applications that require reliable alignment with human values. The research was led by Kwon Min-chan, a doctoral student at KAIST, and has been accepted to NeurIPS 2025, one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence conferences. The study will be presented at a poster session on December 3, Pacific time. The project was supported by funding from the Ministry of Science and ICT through the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation. 2025-12-17 15:47:32
  • Korean calligraphy exhibition marks 60 years of immigration to Argentina
    Korean calligraphy exhibition marks 60 years of immigration to Argentina SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - A Korean calligraphy exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of Korean immigration to Argentina opened on December 12 at the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo in Buenos Aires, bringing together Korean community members and Argentine officials to reflect on six decades of shared history. The opening ceremony was attended by Han Byung-gil, chairman of the Korea Council on Latin America & the Caribbean, who delivered congratulatory remarks highlighting the cultural significance of Hangeul and the long-standing contributions of the Korean community in Argentina. The exhibition, titled to commemorate the milestone anniversary, was hosted by North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province and organized by the World Calligraphy Biennale of Jeonbuk. It was supported by the Korea Council on Latin America & the Caribbean, the Korean Association in Argentina, and the Korean Cultural Center in Argentina. The exhibition runs from December 12 through December 19. Following the opening ceremony, an awards presentation was held at the same venue to recognize distinguished members of the Korean-Argentine community. Ambassador Lee Yong-soo of South Korea to Argentina presented commendations to Kim Hye-sook and Yang Won-joon in recognition of their contributions to the community. The evening continued with a year-end reception for the Korean community in Argentina, which also served as a commemorative gathering marking the 60th anniversary of immigration. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the community’s history and to reaffirm commitments to its future development. The reception was attended by more than 200 guests, including Kelly Olmos, a member of Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies and former labor minister; Santos Gaston, director of multicultural affairs for the city of Buenos Aires; Alfredo Bascu, former Argentine ambassador to South Korea; and members of the Korean diaspora. Organizers said the event underscored the role of cultural exchange in strengthening ties between Korea and Argentina and highlighted the enduring presence of the Korean community in Argentine society. 2025-12-16 17:51:01
  • Sookmyung Womens University team develops light-activated technology to break down fat
    Sookmyung Women's University team develops light-activated technology to break down fat SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - A research team at Sookmyung Women’s University, led by Professor Byun Jun-ho in the College of Pharmacy, has developed a new nanotechnology that uses light to selectively break down fat inside fat cells, a potential advance toward safer and more precise obesity treatments. The researchers said in the study, announced on December 16, that the approach targets fat without damaging surrounding tissue, addressing safety concerns linked to existing obesity treatments. Obesity is one of the most common chronic health conditions worldwide and is closely associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease. Current treatments rely largely on medication or surgery, which can cause systemic side effects or require invasive procedures, increasing demand for more targeted alternatives. The team focused on a natural cellular recycling process known as chaperone-mediated autophagy, or CMA. CMA helps maintain balance inside cells by breaking down specific proteins, and recent studies have shown it plays a key role in fat metabolism. To activate this process selectively, the researchers developed a nanoparticle system embedded in a hydrogel. The nanoparticles are coated with membranes derived from fat cells, allowing them to be absorbed primarily by fat cells rather than immune cells or nearby tissue. Each particle also carries a drug that promotes fat breakdown. When near-infrared light is applied, the nanoparticles generate mild heat that activates a key CMA-related protein, HSC70. This triggers the breakdown of a protective protein surrounding fat droplets, allowing fat-digesting enzymes to access and dismantle stored fat. The effect occurs only inside fat cells. In animal tests using mice fed a high-fat diet, the treatment led to significant weight loss and clear reductions in fat tissue size and triglyceride accumulation after light exposure. The researchers reported no abnormal findings in major toxicity indicators, including liver and kidney function, supporting the potential of the approach as a localized treatment. Byun said the study differs from existing light-based fat treatments that destroy fat cells directly. “This strategy selectively breaks down fat by precisely controlling the cell’s natural degradation system,” he said, adding that the approach could eventually be expanded to metabolic and aging-related diseases linked to impaired autophagy. The findings were published in Advanced Materials, an international journal in materials science and nanobiotechnology. The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Seoul National University, Korea University, and the Korea Institute of Materials Science. ◆Journal: Advanced Materials (impact factor 26.8, JCR top 2.2 percent) ◆Title: Selective Lipolysis by Photoactivation of Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy Using Adipocyte Membrane-Coated Nanoparticle in Hydrogel ◆DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202418445 2025-12-16 14:30:49
  • KAIST develops stretchable liquid-metal ink for invisible cloaking technology
    KAIST develops stretchable liquid-metal ink for invisible cloaking technology SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a stretchable liquid-metal ink that allows electromagnetic cloaking properties to change as the material is stretched, a breakthrough that could expand the practical use of invisible cloaking technology in robotics, wearables, and defense applications. The research was announced on December 16 by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The study was led by Professor Kim Hyung-soo of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Professor Park Sang-hoo of the Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering. The concept behind cloaking technology is to make an object undetectable to radar or sensors by controlling how electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, interact with its surface. While cloaking has long been studied in theory and in rigid materials, applying it to moving or flexible objects has remained difficult because conventional metals conduct electricity well but break easily when stretched. The KAIST team addressed this limitation by developing a liquid metal composite ink, known as LMCP, that maintains electrical conductivity even when stretched up to 12 times its original length. The ink also showed high durability, remaining stable in open air for nearly a year without significant corrosion or performance loss. Unlike solid metals, the ink behaves like rubber while retaining metallic conductivity. This is possible because liquid metal particles inside the ink naturally form a network-like structure as the material dries, creating a self-connected conductive pathway. When printed in repeating microscopic patterns, the structure functions as a type of metamaterial, an engineered material designed to manipulate electromagnetic waves in specific ways. Using this ink, the researchers demonstrated the world's first stretchable electromagnetic metamaterial absorber whose radar absorption properties change depending on how much it is stretched. Simply pulling the material like a rubber band altered the frequency range of electromagnetic waves it could absorb, showing that cloaking performance could be actively tuned through physical deformation. The fabrication process is also relatively simple. The ink can be printed or brushed onto a surface and dried without the need for high-temperature processing, lasers, or complex manufacturing equipment. It also avoids common problems seen in liquid-based materials, such as cracking or uneven drying, allowing for smooth and uniform metal patterns. According to the researchers, the technology could be applied to robot skins that move and deform, body-worn electronic devices, and next-generation stealth systems that require adaptability rather than fixed shapes. By allowing cloaking performance to respond dynamically to movement, the material opens possibilities that were previously difficult to achieve with rigid designs. Professor Kim said the research shows that advanced electromagnetic functions can be realized through simple printing processes without complex machinery. He added that the technology could serve as a foundation for future applications ranging from wearable electronics to radar stealth systems. The findings were published in the October 2025 issue of the international journal Small, published by Wiley, and were selected as a cover article. The study was supported by a mid-career research grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea and the KAIST UP Program. The research team included first author Dr. Pyeon Jeong-su, co-author Lee Hyunseung, and Professor Choi Won-ho, with Professors Kim Hyungsoo and Park Sang-hoo serving as corresponding authors. 2025-12-16 14:06:05
  • South Korea and Türkiye revisit historic bonds, map future partnership in Seoul
    South Korea and Türkiye revisit historic bonds, map future partnership in Seoul SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - The first 5,000-strong Turkish brigade, codenamed North Star, landed in South Korea on Oct. 19, 1950, just months after North Korea's invasion in June. Deployed under the United Nations Command, the Turkish contingent was not just second to arrive to South Korea's rescue after the United States, but also the second-largest contributor among the 16 nations involved in the war. Nearly 1,000 Turkish soldiers were killed or wounded while defending a country many had never seen before. Türkiye's connection to the Korean Peninsula goes back as far as more than 1,500 years ago, when the Göktürk Khaganate supported Goguryeo, one of Korea's ancient kingdoms. After the war, Turkish troops remained to help rebuild civilian life, establishing the Ankara School and Orphanage for Korean war orphans. The institution operated until the 1960s and remains a powerful symbol of humanitarian solidarity. For these reasons, relations between Seoul and Ankara are often described as a rare "blood brotherhood." That shared history was revisited Monday at a photo exhibition hosted at Korea University, which traced bilateral ties since the outbreak of the Korean War. The event brought together diplomats, policy experts, academics, and business leaders from both countries, creating an atmosphere of emotional resonance as well as strategic reflection. Seoul and Ankara are now drawing on a deep reservoir of shared history as they seek to expand cooperation into energy, technology and strategic industries, amid growing global polarization and middle-power diplomacy. High-level public-private discussions followed, aimed at moving the relationship beyond symbolism toward more reciprocal, future-oriented cooperation. The talks built on a memorandum of understanding signed during President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to Türkiye last month. The discussions were part of the "Türkiye Meetings," co-hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in the Republic of Korea and the Korea University Graduate School of International Studies' International Policy Forum. The gathering added substance to summit-level agreements reached on Nov. 24 and coincided with Türkiye's Language and Diaspora Day on Dec. 15. The newly expanded MoU framework covers defense cooperation, nuclear energy, high-tech industries, infrastructure and finance, as well as digital infrastructure and green energy. Both sides underscored the growing role of middle powers as the global order becomes more polarized, fragmented and increasingly shaped by great-power rivalry. One focal point of discussion was South Korea's potential participation in Türkiye's Sinop Nuclear Power Plant project. For Seoul, the project represents an opportunity to expand its global nuclear footprint; for Ankara, it promises long-term technological reliability and greater strategic autonomy in energy. What distinguishes the 2025 MoUs, however, is their breadth. Beyond defense and nuclear energy, cooperation is set to expand into digital transformation, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, smart manufacturing, renewable energy, and the green-hydrogen economy. Dr. Nam Seung-wook said nuclear cooperation could serve as a cornerstone of broader industrial alignment, pointing to efforts to "integrate Korea's high-tech manufacturing strengths with Türkiye's production base and market linkages" to build a "resilient, uninterrupted supply chain." He noted that the two governments had laid institutional groundwork through a bilateral joint statement and a subsequent MoU, adding that the framework opens the door for South Korea to participate in Türkiye's planned second nuclear power plant in Sinop, including early-stage work such as site evaluation. Such cooperation, he said, is increasingly expected to extend beyond simple exports toward "joint development and production" in both nuclear energy and related strategic industries. With South Korea facing land constraints for large-scale renewable projects, Türkiye's abundant solar, wind, and geothermal resources present a natural complement. Türkiye's growing status as a regional energy hub also aligns with South Korea's push to secure diversified and stable energy supply chains. Participants at the Türkiye Meetings included Deputy Chief of Mission Esra Dogan Grajover, while Korea University officials—led by GSIS International Policy Forum Board Chair Kim Byung-ki—hosted the event on behalf of the graduate school and its affiliated research institutes. Speaking at the event, the Turkish Deputy Chief of Mission underscored the emotional foundation of bilateral ties, describing the Korea–Türkiye relationship as "deeply rooted in shared sacrifice and mutual respect." Recalling the Korean War, she noted that Turkish soldiers who crossed oceans to defend South Korea are remembered not as outsiders but "as brothers who helped save the nation." Looking ahead, she said the recent visit of President Lee Jae Myung to Ankara was "a testament to many more achievements to come," pointing to expanding cooperation in energy, defense, technology and people-to-people exchanges, and adding that the growing partnership reflects a shared vision of building "many 75 years to come." Addressing the broader strategic context, Grajober said the partnership between South Korea and Türkiye is increasingly shaped by shared global challenges, citing "global security, economic resilience, technological transformation, sustainable development." In that environment, she argued, reliable partnerships matter more than ever, asking, "who could be more trustworthy than a brother tested in difficult times." As both countries look ahead, officials emphasized that the challenge now lies in translating historic goodwill into sustained, project-based cooperation—anchored not only in memory, but in shared strategic interests for the decades ahead. 2025-12-15 18:00:15
  • World AI Film Festival to debut in Seoul in 2026
    World AI Film Festival to debut in Seoul in 2026 SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - The World AI Film Festival will make its Seoul debut in March 2026, bringing together artificial intelligence technology and film as part of its expanding global network. Content planning firm Vision Culture said it will host the World AI Film Festival Seoul 2026 (WAIFF Seoul 2026) on March 6 and 7, 2026, at Lotte World Tower in southern Seoul. The event will be held with official sponsor Lotte and media partner The Korea Herald. WAIFF is an international, network-based film festival that explores the artistic convergence of cinema and artificial intelligence. Founded by France-based Institut EuropIA, the festival has grown into a global platform with editions held in France, Brazil, Japan, China and South Korea. Each regional edition runs its own competition and jury while remaining linked through a shared international creative community. The inaugural WAIFF was held in April 2025 in Nice, near Cannes, attracting more than 1,500 submissions from 85 countries. About 200 industry professionals and more than 1,000 audience members attended the first edition. Following that launch, Seoul was selected as the festival’s Asian premiere host city for 2026. Cities confirmed to host WAIFF editions in 2026 include Sao Paulo, Kyoto, Wuxi and Seoul, with the Seoul event marking the first WAIFF edition in Asia. WAIFF Seoul 2026 will run a full competition program focused on short-form works created using generative AI technologies. Submissions opened on October 15 through the official website and include four categories: AI short films, AI short series, AI advertising and youth AI films. All entries must involve video works produced using generative AI. In addition to the competition, the festival will feature workshops, panel discussions, ethics forums, and industry exchange sessions covering AI-based content production, education, and collaboration. The jury and honorary leadership lineup includes Marco Landi, former chief operating officer of Apple and chairman of Institut EuropIA; French Academy Award-winning director Claude Lelouch; Emmy Award-winning writer Sarah Lelouch; and internationally acclaimed actress Gong Li, known for her roles in Memoirs of a Geisha and Farewell My Concubine. Winners in each category will receive prize money and sponsorship support, and selected award-winning works will be invited to screen at the main World AI Film Festival event in Cannes in April 2026. WAIFF Seoul 2026 is expected to serve as a platform connecting South Korea’s AI-driven content creators with global film and technology networks. 2025-12-12 17:59:31
  • Punjab chief minister courts S. Korean investors during Seoul visit
    Punjab chief minister courts S. Korean investors during Seoul visit SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann wrapped up a two-day visit to Seoul on December 9 with a series of meetings aimed at attracting South Korean investment across infrastructure, energy, food processing, and advanced manufacturing. The trip also included a large investment roadshow, where Mann promoted Punjab as a stable and future-ready business destination. During talks with Daewoo E&C Chairman Jung Won-joo, Mann pushed for cooperation on renewable energy projects, including offshore wind farms, solar plants, and hydrogen production, while also highlighting opportunities in LNG terminals, petrochemical complexes, fertilizer plants, smart-city development, and transport infrastructure. He also stressed the potential for modular and prefabricated construction technologies to support faster, more cost-efficient building in the state. At a separate meeting with GS Engineering & Construction Vice President Ryu Young-ha, the chief minister encouraged collaboration in solar, wind, and hydrogen energy, as well as large-scale civil works, industrial complexes, and EPC services. Mann said Punjab would provide full support for Korean participation in green hydrogen and clean-energy initiatives. Food and agribusiness were also on the agenda. In talks with Nongshim Holdings, Mann advocated joint development of new instant noodle products tailored to Indian consumers and urged greater expansion into Indian retail and e-commerce channels. He proposed cooperation on marketing aimed at health-conscious and youth demographics, along with partnerships on sustainable packaging and research into longevity foods and plant-based products. Industrial technology featured prominently in his meeting with Korea Display Industry Association Vice Chairman Lee Sung-kyu. Mann called for exploring investment in display manufacturing and technology transfer, as well as collaboration in cybersecurity, robotics, unmanned systems, and workforce training programs related to display engineering. The chief minister also met Seoul Business Agency Startup Division Director Kim Jong-woo, where discussions focused on startup incubation, acceleration programs, and SBA's export support initiatives. Mann stressed that strengthening knowledge exchange on innovation ecosystems could help Punjab-based startups expand globally. A roundtable on improving the business environment brought together major Korean legal firms, financial institutions, trade bodies, and think tanks. Mann presented recent regulatory reforms and invited feedback on streamlining procedures to support investment. He promoted Punjab as one of India's preferred destinations for global companies and pointed to developments underway ahead of the Progressive Punjab Investors' Summit 2026. Mann also visited Pangyo Techno Valley, often described as South Korea's Silicon Valley, to study its deep-tech startup ecosystem. Officials from the Gyeonggi Province Business & Science Accelerator briefed the delegation on Pangyo's accelerator programs, testing platforms, and performance-driven evaluation system. Mann said Punjab could adapt similar approaches in Mohali to strengthen research, innovation, and high-skilled employment. The visit culminated in the Punjab Investment Roadshow in Seoul, which drew participation from Korean corporations, financial institutions, R&D organizations, trade associations, legal advisors, and members of the Indian and Punjabi communities. Mann highlighted Punjab's industrial base, cost-competitive power supply, reliable labor relations, and connectivity to major markets, positioning the state as a predictable and supportive investment environment. Indian Ambassador to South Korea Gourangalal Das welcomed the delegation and said the Embassy would continue working to expand industrial ties between India and South Korea. Participants also heard a video message from the managing director of Sunjin, who praised the investment climate in Mohali and Chandigarh and spoke positively of Punjab's skilled workforce. 2025-12-11 16:13:12
  • Kookmin University highlights new ERC center on robotic functional skin and hypersensory perception
    Kookmin University highlights new ERC center on robotic functional skin and hypersensory perception SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - Kookmin University hosted a K*-Colloquium on December 9 at its Industry-Academic Cooperation Building, where Professor Lim Si-hyung of the School of Mechanical Engineering presented the vision and roadmap of the newly selected Engineering Research Center (ERC) on Robotic Functional Skin and Enhanced Perception. The K*-Colloquium is a regular seminar series organized by the university's Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation. It serves as a forum for sharing research outcomes and future plans from new faculty members, as well as examining core technologies driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including AI, semiconductors and advanced convergence technologies. The "K*" mark reflects Kookmin University's identity and its focus on innovation-driven research. During the session, Lim introduced the center's strategy and research scope following its selection this year by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea. The center aims to overcome the limits of conventional vision-dependent robotic systems by integrating functional skin technologies with multisensory perception. The research program is structured around three pillars: a non-visual hypersensory cognition platform combining tactile, auditory and olfactory sensors; multifunctional skin capable of dustproofing, waterproofing, heat resistance and radiation protection; and high-precision nano- and micro-scale surface manufacturing technologies. The long-term goal is to enable robots to "sense, judge and respond" to their surroundings in a manner more similar to biological organisms. By embedding human-skin-like sensory functions into robotic surfaces, the center seeks to develop technologies that could be applied to disaster-response robots, nuclear and industrial plant inspection systems, space and deep-sea exploration platforms, and defense-related unmanned systems. The consortium includes Kookmin University as the lead institution, joined by Seoul National University, UNIST, Kumoh National Institute of Technology and Gachon University. Ten partner companies, including Hyundai Motor, are providing about 1.3 billion won in private-sector investment to support demonstration projects and commercialization pathways. The center aims to establish global research standards, expand technology transfer and promote deep-tech startup efforts as part of a broader strategy to reinforce South Korea's competitiveness in foundational robotics. "This project aims to elevate the most essential elements of robotics — skin and perception — to a world-class level," Lim said. "We hope to create a turning point for South Korea to become a global leader in foundational robotic technologies that function even in extreme environments." Lim received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Seoul National University and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. His research covers next-generation sensors and devices, functional robotic materials and high-reliability manufacturing processes. He currently serves as a professor in Kookmin University's School of Mechanical Engineering and has led multiple national research initiatives in related fields. 2025-12-11 14:27:56
  • President Lee receives credentials from Indias new ambassador in Seoul
    President Lee receives credentials from India's new ambassador in Seoul SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung received the credentials of India's new ambassador, Gourangalal Das, during a ceremony at the presidential office in Yongsan on Thursday. Das presented his letter of credence to President Lee, who welcomed him, posed for a photo, and exchanged brief remarks before continuing with the session. The event brought together eight newly appointed ambassadors to South Korea. Among them were Eva Marie Lussek of Austria and Khuon Phonrattanak of Cambodia, each presenting their credentials alongside Ambassador Das. The credential ceremony is the step in which a new ambassador officially delivers the document issued by their head of state to the host nation’s president, allowing the envoy to begin carrying out diplomatic duties. 2025-12-11 14:03:51
  • South Korean robotics leaders highlight rise of Physical AI at COMEUP 2025
    South Korean robotics leaders highlight rise of 'Physical AI' at COMEUP 2025 SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - A discussion on the growing convergence of robotics and artificial intelligence drew a full audience at COMEUP 2025, South Korea's largest annual startup festival, on Wednesday, as two South Korean robotics entrepreneurs described how so-called "physical AI" is reshaping the sector and opening new markets for humanoid machines. The session, titled "Physical AI: Where Robotics Meets Intelligence," brought together ROBOTIS CEO Kim Byoung-soo and RLWRLD CEO Ryu Jung-hee. The two spoke candidly about the rapid shift taking place as robots move from rule-based industrial systems to AI-driven platforms capable of learning, perception, and autonomous action. Kim, who operates ROBOTIS, well-known for developing actuators widely used by robotics researchers, said the past year marked a major turning point. "Robots used to operate only on rule-based models inside factories," he said. "With AI attached, people now expect robots to move with real intelligence." He noted that demand for actuators is expanding beyond universities to AI labs and large companies investing in next-generation robotics. Ryu, formerly a venture investor, said he launched RLWRLD after realizing South Korea lacked a company building a foundation model for robotics. He described his team’s work on a "large vision-language-action model" that must interpret images, understand speech, and output robotic movements rather than text. "Human-level datasets for robots do not exist on the web," he said. "We have to create large amounts of data ourselves, and nobody yet knows the perfect model structure." The two speakers invited the audience to participate in real-time polls using colored lights attached to their seats. Most attendees said they expect humanoid robots to be working in homes within ten years, and an overwhelming majority predicted that South Korean companies will play an important role in the humanoid market alongside the United States and China. Kim said the industrial robot market, despite its long history, has a large room to grow once robots move out of factory lines. He pointed to global manufacturers already requesting robots that can be trained with long hours of data, adding that securing data and infrastructure has become a critical part of competition. Ryu said early demand for humanoids is strongest not in manufacturing but in service sectors such as convenience stores, hotels and logistics. "These are places that cannot relocate their operations abroad," he said. "Many of them told us they were waiting for humanoids with real AI." The speakers also discussed the challenges facing Korean robotics startups, including capital gaps with U.S. competitors and the difficulty of scaling data collection. Ryu noted that his one-year-old company is raising funds at a relatively high valuation by Korean standards, while comparable U.S. robotics-AI firms have reached multibillion-dollar levels. Both agreed that South Korea’s manufacturing expertise and its growing mix of hardware and AI companies allow it to compete in the emerging physical-AI field. Kim closed with a message to younger founders, warning against losing focus when investment becomes easier. "Stay with your original mission," he said. "Robotics and AI require discipline, not distractions." 2025-12-10 17:01:11