Issue Scaling physical AI across Korean industry amid cost pressure and job change

Summary

The report expects robots and AI working around the clock to maximise equipment utilisation and output in manufacturing and logistics. Reducing reliance on labour in labour-intensive sectors is presented as a route to structural cost savings and long-term competitiveness, while the report also flags job changes as a social effect. Korea's policy direction is to launch public-private cooperation for sector strategies such as shipbuilding and defence transformation and to extend physical AI to all industries. Physical AI test beds linked to regional AI transformation projects are meant to demonstrate productivity gains early in strong local sectors such as manufacturing and logistics. The plan also calls for strategically securing and training physical AI specialists tailored to industrial sites.