Korea lines up 9 agencies and 11 makers for its first 1,700 public AI robots

South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) said in a press release on Oct 28 that it is holding a two-day product briefing on wheeled and four-legged robots for public-sector use at SETEC in Seoul on Oct 28 and 29, the first working step of the government's plan to buy about 1,700 AI robots for public bodies next year.

Nine demand agencies took part, among them the Ministry of National Defense, the Army headquarters, the National Fire Agency, the Korean National Police Agency, the agriculture ministry and the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation. On the supply side were 11 domestic makers of wheeled and quadruped robots, including Rainbow Robotics, Robotis, Hyundai Motor and Neubility. The ministry said the robots will go to research and data-factory work (MOTIR and the science ministry), patrol and perimeter security (defence and police) and farm support (agriculture), and that operating data will flow back to the makers to improve their products. Agencies and companies met one to one to set performance and operating requirements before the first purchases.

MOTIR said it will draw up public-deployment guidelines with other ministries by the end of 2026, covering links to Korean parts suppliers, data collection and use, and after-sales repair. It will also show humanoid and care robots at Robo World at KINTEX from Nov 4 to 7.

MEKAWIRE context: the 1,700 units are the first year of the Sep 30 national plan for 200,000 AI robots by 2030, of which about 15,000 are to come through public procurement, so 2027 covers roughly 11% of the public target. Our Oct 21 report of the same figure rested on a trade-press account of a forum; this release is the ministry's own confirmation.