"A Robot That Dances Ballet Is Coming"... Hwaseong City to Showcase Physical AI at MARS 2026

Hwaseong City to Host MARS 2026 at Seoul's COEX, November 3-5
Humanoid Robot to Perform Ballet at Opening Ceremony
Two Bionic Robots, the First of Their Kind in Korea, to Greet Visitors at Exhibition Entrance
Eight Robots to Showcase Logistics, P

Hwaseong Special City in Gyeonggi Province, led by Mayor Jeong Myeonggeun, will showcase robots that make eye contact and converse with people, as well as a humanoid robot that performs ballet, at an artificial intelligence (AI) expo it is holding in Seoul this November. The city will also demonstrate robots working on-site, from transporting goods and conducting patrols to guiding visitors through the exhibition.

Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jeong Myeonggeun shakes hands with Luna, a robot set to perform a ballet routine on the opening stage of the MARS 2026 opening ceremony. Photo provided by Hwaseong City.

Hwaseong City announced on October 27 that it will showcase robots incorporating a range of physical AI technologies at MARS 2026, which will be held from November 3 to 5 at COEX Hall D and the Auditorium in Seoul. Physical AI refers to technology that enables physical devices, such as robots, to perceive and assess their surroundings and take action in the real world.

Two UWORLD U1 Pro bionic robots, modeled on human faces, will be stationed at the exhibition entrance. According to the city, this will be the first time in South Korea that these robots have been deployed commercially at the entrance to a large-scale expo hosted by a local government.

The robots reproduce subtle movements around the eyes and corners of the mouth using 33 artificial tendons and 19 facial joints. They are also equipped with Resonance-LM, an emotion large model that can read the emotions of others. Visitors will be able to make eye contact and converse with the robots or hold their hands at the photo zone by the entrance.

At the opening ceremony, which will be held at 11 a.m. on November 3 at the COEX Auditorium, the humanoid robot Walker C1 will perform ballet. The robot is expected to demonstrate dynamic control technology by performing movements such as balancing on its own and extending its arms. Through the performance, the city plans to present its vision of a city where AI moves and operates in real-world spaces.

Humanoid robot Luna, which will perform a ballet routine at the opening ceremony of MARS 2026 on November 3. Photo provided by Hwaseong City.

Robots designed for different purposes will be demonstrated throughout the exhibition venue. In the industrial sector, the logistics robot Cruzr Y1 will demonstrate loading and unloading by picking up and moving boxes with its two arms. The service robot Walker DEX will demonstrate barcode scanning, inventory management, and organizing goods. The patrol robot Walker DEX EDU will move around the exhibition venue and converse with visitors.

Walker C1 will also serve as a Korean-language docent in the exhibition area. Two multilingual guidance robots, Cruzr 1S, will guide international visitors in 20 languages, while the humanoid robot LUNA will provide protocol services for distinguished guests.

Hwaseong Mayor Jeong Myeonggeun said, "Robots are key players driving innovation in the AI ecosystem through physical AI. MARS 2026 will be an opportunity to demonstrate, through real-world technology, a 'city of action-oriented AI' where citizens make eye contact and interact with real robots."

The male and female versions of the bionic robot “UWORLD U1 Pro,” which will greet visitors at the exhibition entrance at MARS 2026 on November 3. Photo provided by Hwaseong City.

He added, "Advanced robots throughout the exhibition venue will offer unforgettable physical AI experiences. I hope many people will support and attend this event, where they can see firsthand the future AI city led by robots," he emphasized.

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