Korea Bets on Physical AI to Break Manufacturing Slowdown, Targets Top 3 in Robotics

en.sedaily.com May 30, 2026

Korea Bets on Physical AI to Break Manufacturing Slowdown, Targets Top 3 in Robotics

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · May 30, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Korea's manufacturing growth rate has slowed from 6.8% in 2008 to 1.8% in 2023. To address this, the government is focusing on physical AI, leveraging the country's high robot density and semiconductor supply chains. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is pursuing a three-track approach: research and development, infrastructure construction, and company support. R&D funding has increased to 173.5 billion won this year, with a focus on field demonstrations and infrastructure development.

💡 Why It Matters

· Korea's shift towards physical AI could propel the country to the top three robotics powers, but it requires a holistic ecosystem approach.
· The government's emphasis on close collaboration among companies and infrastructure development may be the key to unlocking innovation and driving growth in the robotics industry.

AI Capsules Robotics

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