South Korea: the land of robots

Sci-fi fans might have wondered, when re-watching classics like "Blade Runner" or "I'Robot", whether they'd ever walk alongside androids or robots on the street in their lifetime. It seemed to belong to a more distant future. Yet, little by little, these machines have begun to make their mark. For the time being, they seem to be mainly reserved for factories, at least that's the case in the Americas and Europe, but in Asia, the situation is not the same.

Many Eastern countries have adopted robotics to a greater extent. Japan, of course, where major advances in robots have been made, and China, seeking to demonstrate its global power, is investing more and more in the field; for the moment, however, it's South Korea that's claiming to be the land of robots.

Robots everywhere in everyday life...

Indeed, statistics compiled on the number of robots in the manufacturing world show that Korea is ahead of all other nations. By 2021, the country had reached 1,000 machines per 10,000 employees, seven times higher than the world average of 141 per 10,000. This only applies to factories. Because robots are now part of everyday Korean life. In January 2022, the Korea Herald reported that some 3,000 robots were serving customers in restaurants. In 2019, there were just 50.

This considerable explosion can be explained by a number of factors. Korea's proximity to Japan has encouraged innovation and a degree of competition with advances made in the island nation. As a result, the Korean authorities have spent nearly half a billion dollars on robotics R&D. What's more, like many industrialized countries, Korea is experiencing a labor shortage, due in part to an aging population and a refusal by workers to tolerate certain working conditions. The Korean fried chicken industry, for example, is benefiting from the arrival of robots to produce and serve food.

Both Korea and Japan have always had a very positive view of technological advances. This cultural difference can be felt when it comes to robots: Asians perceive them as competent and friendly, while Westerners see their capabilities but regard them as cold.

So no one in Korea was shocked that the authorities allowed autonomous robots to be deployed outdoors. Delivery and other machines will now be able to walk on sidewalks with others, provided they weigh less than 550 kilograms and cannot go faster than 15 km/h. Companies using them will also have to take out insurance and will be subject to road traffic regulations. The operator of a robot crossing in the wrong place will be fined... 23 dollars.

South Korea is also seeing an increase in the number of people living alone. As a result, Korean groups are developing small butlers to help these individuals and liven up their daily lives.

... and in schools

• The academic world is not left behind when it comes to robotics. Korean robotics engineering faculties are hard at work, inspiring colleagues in other fields to use robots. Paleontology researchers, for example, have created a robot reproducing a feathered dinosaur, the Caudipteryx. The idea is to see how it used its feathers to hunt efficiently.
  
  
• Korean schoolchildren are also likely to encounter more and more machines along the way. In 2023, robots have been approved to fill almost 300 chef positions in canteens. They will therefore be able to prepare and serve food to children every day, reducing the effort required of human workers.
  
  
• Robots will also be found in classrooms. By 2024, primary and secondary school pupils in Seoul will be able to use robotic tutors to practice one-to-one conversations in English. They will be able, for example, to simulate ordering in a restaurant or asking someone for directions. The robot will be able to react to what is said and even correct the student's pronunciation or syntax. The pilot project could be extended nationwide if it proves successful.

Pioneers?

So, is Korea the vision of what's to come in the world in the next decade? Possibly, but even the robot paradise has a number of issues to deal with before moving even further ahead with robotization.

Of course, ethical questions are raised by the uses of robotics. How can we ensure that everything is done without affecting people's physical and psychological integrity, as well as their personal data? What's more, while metropolises are the ideal playground for robots, this is less the case in rural areas. Not to mention the fact that certain segments of the population will be uncomfortable interacting with a robot. According to the country's consumer protection agency, we'll need to think about different ways of dealing with older people and those with disabilities.

All these questions, and many others, can help us to prepare for a less robotized society. All the more so as a greater share of robotization also comes with its own employment challenges. If the effects in Korea are smaller than expected, it has been necessary to offer training and related career paths to the people being replaced. For those shocked by this, even robots are not immune to replacement. Indeed, it seems that cheaper Chinese robots are undermining the Korean robotics industry...

Photo: efired / DepositPhotos

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