December 4, 2024 – According to a report by The Independent, South Korea has emerged as the first country in the world to replace over 10% of its industrial workforce with robots.
The report, citing data from the “World Robot 2024” annual report, highlights that South Korea has become a global leader in the application of robot technology. Currently, there are 1102 robots per 10,000 employees in the country. Moreover, South Korea has been expanding the use of robots into various other industries, including hospitals and restaurants.
Since 2018, the country has witnessed a 5% annual growth in robot density. The report further notes that South Korea’s robot density is more than twice that of other countries and regions mentioned in the report (excluding Singapore), where there are 770 robots per 10,000 employees.
This transformation can be attributed to the significant investments made by the South Korean government in the robotics industry. The government views robotics as a solution to address the decline in the working population due to low birth rates.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced the Fourth Basic Plan for Intelligent Robots, committing to investing $2.4 billion in both public and private sectors by 2030. According to a report by the country’s International Trade Administration in August, this plan provides guidance for the development of the robotics industry in key areas such as manufacturing, services, agriculture, logistics, healthcare, defense, and social security.
One of the goals of this plan is to increase the proportion of locally manufactured core robot components from the current 44% to 80% by 2030, while establishing an effective technology support system.
Globally, robot density has doubled in the past seven years, increasing from 74 to 162 robots per 10,000 employees. South Korea’s investment and innovation in this field serve as a model for other nations seeking to integrate robotics into their industrial landscapes.
