South Korea to invest 2.3 tln won in humanoid robots by 2030
South Korea has unveiled a 2.3 trillion won plan through 2030 to boost full-stack humanoid robot development, including mass production and procurement targets.
The Ministry of Planning and Budget unveiled the plan ahead of the government's next-year budget announcement. With a proposed budget of 600 billion won for next year, the government aims to establish mass-production systems for humanoid robots tailored to 10 major industries and raise the localization rate of key components from the current 45 percent to 80 percent.
To accelerate adoption, the government will purchase 250 domestically developed humanoid robots in 2027 and a total of 1,080 through 2030 for distribution to universities and state-funded research institutes. Including non-humanoid models such as four-legged robots, the government plans to acquire around 5,000 robots through 2030.
The plan also focuses on developing three key components where South Korea lacks competitiveness — actuators, robotic hands and sensors — along with high-performance AI chips and batteries for humanoid robots. The country aims to complete its full-stack humanoid technology by 2031, including a homegrown robot operating system, the ministry added.