Bae: "Time to Become a Global Leader in Physical AI Through Tangible Results in the Field"

Physical AI Alliance Roundtable
Hears Industry Challenges and Policy Needs

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyunghoon stressed that the Physical AI Alliance must demonstrate tangible results if South Korea is to become a global leader in Physical AI.

Bae Kyunghoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, examines a mine-detecting quadruped robot at Physical AI Tech Week at COEX in Seoul on the 13th. Yonhap News.

On October 13, Deputy Prime Minister Bae held a meeting at the “Physical AI Alliance Day” event at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to review the achievements of the second-term Physical AI Alliance, launched last June, and hear feedback from industry and research communities. About 20 people attended, including Cho Junhee, co-chair of the Physical AI Alliance and head of the Korea Association of Artificial Intelligence and Software Industry, as well as the chairs of its three divisions—Technology Full Stack, Industry Bridge, and Governance—action group leaders, and representatives of partner and operating organizations.

The Technology Full Stack Division presented plans to secure full-stack K-Physical AI technologies by bringing together domestic capabilities in AI models, AI semiconductors, software, and robotics. The Industry Bridge Division presented plans to identify demonstration and commercialization projects linking suppliers and demand companies in industries such as manufacturing, defense, and maritime. The Governance Division shared plans to build a Physical AI ecosystem, including through standardization and global cooperation.

During an open discussion, participants raised challenges and policy needs from the field, including expanding opportunities for demonstrations, connecting suppliers and demand companies, standardizing, securing, and jointly using data, securing specialized personnel, and linking investment with commercialization.

Based on this feedback, the government and the alliance agreed to strengthen an action-oriented cooperation framework in which companies identify projects themselves and connect them with government research and development and demonstration programs, as well as investment programs.

“Physical AI is one of the three major megaprojects that will lead South Korea’s future,” Deputy Prime Minister Bae said. “By bringing together our AI and ICT capabilities and world-class manufacturing base, we can build sufficient competitiveness in Physical AI and become a global leader.” He added, “Now that the Physical AI Alliance has shifted ‘from discussion to action,’ it is time to show results that people can see and feel are making a real difference.”

“As each division and action group develops concrete projects, it is important to create a virtuous cycle that leads from technology development to field demonstrations, investment, and commercialization,” he said. “I urge you to create successful cases early on that work in the field and allow businesses and the public to feel the difference, and to turn them into tangible results on the path to becoming a global leader in Physical AI.”

Following the “Physical AI Alliance Day” held on October 13, the “Physical AI Tech Day,” themed “Brains in Action,” will take place on October 14. The event will share the latest technologies and industry trends through keynote speeches and technical presentations by domestic and international experts, a talk concert, and an exhibition of Physical AI technologies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.