Korean Media: Why is South Korea's Robot Industry Falling Behind China?
On August 7, the Korean media outlet "Chosun Ilbo" published an article stating that South Korea has claimed to be a "robot superpower" for 20 years, but in reality, its position on the global stage is increasingly declining. China, which occupies the world's largest robot market, is rapidly commercializing industrial robots, service robots, and AI robots based on its own technology, thereby expanding its industrial ecosystem.
On the other hand, although South Korea has made some technological advancements, its overall competitiveness (including the market, talent, policies, and component independence) is still assessed as being behind.
South Korean robot companies have world-class technology in areas such as robotic arms, walking robots, and logistics robots. The Hubo developed by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, the walking robot by Hyundai Motor, and the collaborative robot by Hanwha have all achieved remarkable results.
However, the problem lies in the structure where technology cannot be directly converted into the market. Due to the lack of large-scale demand, even large South Korean companies are introducing foreign robots, and domestic South Korean technology is in a state of isolation.
On the other hand, China has formed a "test-production-feedback-upgrade" virtuous cycle structure due to its vast domestic market.
The biggest reason why the South Korean robot industry cannot be self-sufficient is the low rate of domestication of core components. Most precision reducers, servo motors, high-resolution sensors, and control modules depend on Japan, Germany, and China, so South Korean domestic robots have weak price competitiveness and higher maintenance costs.
On the other hand, China has listed key components as "strategic materials" and invested heavily to accelerate domestication. Domestic companies like DJI and Siasun are directly developing robot SoCs, operating systems, and control platforms, thus enhancing the autonomy of the entire industry.
South Korea's robot industry is mainly composed of small and medium-sized enterprises and startups. They have many innovative technologies, but they suffer from serious lack of funds, mass production, distribution networks, and global expansion capabilities.
LG Electronics focuses on home appliance service robots and does not actively invest in general industrial robots; Samsung Electronics has robot-related technologies, but it is relatively passive in commercialization. In China, large platform companies such as Huawei, Baidu, and Hikvision directly integrate robot technologies, AI chips, and software, occupying a leading position in the market.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1839798733921420/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.