South Korea unveils national strategy to become a global leader in physical AI

South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT announced a national strategy to strengthen the country's core competitiveness in physical AI, aiming to become a global leader in this emerging field. As the US and China are both building full-stack physical AI platforms, multiple South Korean ministries jointly developed this strategy to boost national competitiveness.

The strategy sets two main goals: acquiring world-leading full-stack physical AI technology and promoting the application of physical AI across industries like manufacturing, agriculture, defense, and elderly care. South Korea will build a central database combining real and synthetic data, and support companies to independently train general-purpose behavior datasets, reducing reliance on foreign technologies.

Three core underlying technologies will be prioritized: a foundational physical AI model, a world model for simulation, and an edge computing platform with low latency. The government plans to test these technologies in local manufacturing settings, including autonomous precision manufacturing systems and smart factory operations, before expanding to other sectors.

Deputy Prime Minister Lee Jong-ho said physical AI is a key strategic industry for the nation's future, and South Korea has the data and industrial base to make this goal achievable. The government will improve legal frameworks, provide investment support, cultivate talent at all levels, and promote industry-academia collaboration through alliances.