Korea JoongAng Daily - Daily News from Korea

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice.

LAS VEGAS — Imagine robots everywhere, from humanoids moving bizarrely like humans to four-legged dogs storming stairs and doors. This was the reality at Hyundai's CES 2026 booth, which made you forget that it was an automaker first and foremost.

Hyundai's booth spanned 1,836 square meters (19,762.5 square feet) in the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall. People waited in queues for over an hour, so getting a clear view of the company's robots was basically impossible due to the throng of visitors. All were there to witness Hyundai's future vision, unveiled the day before when it announced its expansion into robotics and outlined its robot strategy.

The highlight, naturally, was Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics, a Massachusetts-based robotics startup 90 percent owned by Hyundai Motor Group.

Featuring a 360-degree vision system and human-sized hands embedded with tactile sensors, Atlas can lift payloads up to 50 kilograms (110 pounds); reach heights of 2.3 meters (7.5 feet); operate in temperatures of minus 20 to 40 degrees Celsius (minus 4 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit); and is both water-resistant and washable. When its battery runs low, it autonomously navigates to a charging station, swaps its battery and resumes work immediately.

Hyundai's platform robot, Mobile Eccentric Droid, or MobED, was also busy navigating the booth, continuously adjusting its shape to the weight of whatever it was carrying in the moment.

Measuring 74 centimeters (29 inches) wide and 115 centimeters long, MobED rides on a rectangular chassis supported by four independently controlled wheels that allow it to navigate rough or obstructed terrain reliably at practical speeds.

Each wheel is powered by three motors. As a result, users can precisely steer the robot and tilt its chassis as needed to make arbitrary adjustments. The latter mechanism ensures that MobED remains stable on slopes and uneven surfaces, and even allows it to surmount curbs up to 20 centimeters high.

The robot can even reach a top speed of 10 kilometers per hour (6.2 miles per hour), run for more than four hours on a single charge and carry up to 57 kilograms, depending on the configuration.

Near MobED, multiple Spot AI Keepers, based on the four-legged robot dog Spot, collaborated to precisely assemble and inspect vehicle components and were able to detect assembly defects directly on the production line, even for hard-to-reach car parts.

Hyundai's robots, however, aren't limited to fully autonomous humanoids but also include lighter robots that can be deployed immediately.

Visitors wore white safety helmets and the X-ble Shoulder — a wearable exoskeleton resembling a work vest — and stood beneath a massive car chassis suspended overhead. When they moved their arms, the X-ble Shoulder's mechanical joints followed their actions smoothly.

There was no sense of heaviness or hesitation in the visitors' arm movements as they lifted parts and fitted them onto the vehicle body.

The exoskeleton is distinguished by its passive torque-generating mechanism, which makes it both lightweight and maintenance-free anrequiresre no charging. Its muscle-assist module alleviates shoulder joint load by up to 60 percent and reduces anterior-lateral deltoid activation by 30 percent, easing fatigue while enhancing performance in physically demanding tasks.

In a separate section, Hyundai unveiled a robotaxi developed in collaboration with Motional, built on its Ioniq 5 EV SUV. Classified as Level 4 autonomous under the Society of Automotive Engineers' standards, the vehicle is capable of perceiving its surroundings, making decisions and navigating independently, even in emergency situations, without human intervention.

Hyundai and Motional plan to launch the robotaxi commercially in Las Vegas this year, providing fully autonomous ride-hailing services.

This article is by Sarah Chea, Lee Jae-lim and read by an artificial voice.

LAS VEGAS — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang held private meetings with Mercedes-Benz Chairman Ola Kallenius and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung at CES 2026 on Tuesday as the tech giant launched Alpamayo, its very first AI for self-driving cars.

Chung's meeting with Huang came just a day after the surprise announcement, fueling speculation over whether Hyundai may adopt Alpamayo for its own autonomous driving cars.

Despite years of massive investments, Hyundai has yet to produce clear breakthroughs in autonomous driving and is often viewed as lagging behind competitors such as Tesla. The Korean automaker has yet to fully develop Level 2+ autonomous driving technology, a level Tesla has already reached. It has set a goal of deploying Level 2+ capabilities in mass-produced vehicles by the end of 2027.

Hyundai has already signaled closer cooperation with Nvidia, previously announcing plans to source 50,000 of Nvidia's Blackwell graphics processing units (GPUs) as part of its self-driving and robotics development.

Mercedes-Benz, by contrast, has taken a more aggressive approach in the field and has become the first automaker to adopt Nvidia's Alpamayo AI. The first Nvidia AI-powered self-driving vehicle will be Mercedes-Benz's upcoming CLA, which is scheduled to hit U.S. roads in the first quarter, followed by Europe in the second quarter and Asia in the third quarter.

Alpamayo, a family of open-source AI models that serves as the world's first "thinking and reasoning" autonomous vehicle AI, will introduce vision-language-action, or VLA, models, enabling self-driving systems to interpret visual inputs, reason through complex driving situations and perform precise driving maneuvers. The platform will additionally include large reasoning models, simulation tools for testing rare or dangerous scenarios and open datasets to train AI programs and validate information.

"We open source to everyone, so if a customer would like to use our model that we train, they're welcome to do that," Huang said during a question-and-answer session with the press and analysts Tuesday morning in Las Vegas.

"We just want to enable the world's autonomous industry. Everything that moves should be autonomous," he said.

When asked about potential memory shortages, Huang said he is not concerned, as Nvidia is the "first and only consumer of HBM4," referring to the high bandwidth memory technology.

"We're not expecting anybody else to be using HBM4 for some time. So we have the benefit of being the primary and the only consumer of HBM4," Huang said.

"Our demand is so high, every factory, every HBM supplier is gearing up and we're all doing great."

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are the two dominant HBM suppliers to Nvidia.

Major Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai was highlighted as a key case study during an onstage conversation between Siemens CEO Roland Busch and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The digitalization of HD Hyundai's shipyards was achieved through the integration of Siemens' digital twin technology with Nvidia's Omniverse platform.

"This is quite a perfect example of the type of the work we do together," Huang said on the stage, referring to digital twin replicas of HD Hyundai ships. "This realization of the digital twin idea, that you would design every aspect of engineering, it's not just the CAD, but the computing, the electronics, all of it would be integrated and built into a digital twin. It would of course run all of the software in the digital twin, and in the future, I hope the digital twin of the ship, we'll actually put it in the ocean, a virtual simulation of the ocean, and see it completely operate."

This article is by Han Eun-hwa and read by an artificial voice.

Hyundai Motor Group is reviving its long-stalled Global Business Center (GBC) project at the site of the former Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul, with a scaled-down design and a new completion target of 2031.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Tuesday that it had finalized additional negotiations with the automaker on Dec. 30 of last year, clearing the way for construction to resume. The group plans to invest 5.24 trillion won ($3.63 billion) into the development.

Hyundai originally acquired the former Kepco site for 10.55 trillion won in 2014. An initial agreement with the Seoul city government in 2016 allowed for a 105-story, 561-meter (1,840 feet) megatower housing offices, a hotel and cultural facilities. The construction technically began in 2020, but the project came to a halt after completing only the foundation, as Hyundai wished to scale down the design.

Discussions to reduce the building's height began in 2021, and in February of last year, Hyundai formally submitted a revised plan for three 54-story towers, each 42 meters tall. Rising construction costs and restrictions related to military operations were major factors behind the scale-down. The project's symbolic value also waned after the 123-story Lotte World Tower was completed in 2017.

The Ministry of National Defense had warned that any structure over 260 meters would interfere with military radar visibility. Hyundai agreed to cover the cost of relocating radar equipment, a bill estimated at around 400 billion won.

The most contentious issues in the latest talks involved public contribution payments and pedestrian access. The city had rezoned the land from a Category 3 residential area to a commercial area, increasing the allowable floor area ratio from 250 percent to 800 percent.

In return for the added development rights, Hyundai Motor Group agreed to pay 1.75 trillion won in public contributions, in addition to building an observatory and facilities for exhibitions and conventions.

Some argued that the public contribution should be recalculated to reflect current land values, as the original 105-story plan had been scrapped. A new estimate could have significantly increased Hyundai's financial obligations.

Due to a lack of legal grounds for a reassessment, however, the city and Hyundai settled on an additional 236.6 billion won — the amount previously waived in 2016 in exchange for installing a now-abandoned observation deck and cultural facilities. Hyundai's total public contribution now stands at approximately 1.98 trillion won.

The revised GBC plan includes three 49-story towers, each 242 meters tall, along with performance venues and exhibition spaces.

There were concerns that three separate towers could block pedestrian flow between Seolleung, the GBC site and Jamsil Sports Complex. The city said the issue was resolved by requiring the central tower to be elevated, creating three pedestrian passages between 6 and 12 meters wide.

A 14,000-square-meter (150,694-square-foot) ginkgo forest will be planted in the central plaza, connecting the complex with Yeongdong-daero. The street-facing side will feature a science-themed interactive exhibition hall and a 1,800-seat performance venue.

One of the towers will include an observation deck, while the rooftops of the exhibition and performance halls will be transformed into a 15,000-square-meter public garden.

The urban planning revisions and related impact assessments are expected to be completed in the first half of this year, with construction scheduled for completion by the end of 2031.

The restart of the GBC project is also expected to boost surrounding development efforts and inject vitality into Korea's sluggish construction sector.

Hyundai's public contributions — totaling nearly 2 trillion won — will be used to fund underground development along Yeongdong-daero, the remodeling of Ja...

This article is by Kim Kyung-hee and read by an artificial voice.

Strawberry and tangerine prices are starting out the year on an upward climb as falling production and weather-related disruptions tighten supplies and add pressure to household grocery bills.

Data from Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation on Monday show strawberries cost 2,820 won per 100 grams ($9 per pound) as of last Friday, up 16 percent from a year earlier and 24 percent above the five-year average.

Strawberry prices have risen steadily over the past decade. The average price in January 2016 stood at 1,304 won, meaning prices have more than doubled in 10 years.

Wholesale prices have also jumped. Strawberry wholesale prices for a 2-kilogram (4.4-pound) box reached 45,980 won as of Friday, up 36 percent from a year earlier and 41.2 percent above the five-year average.

Analysts pointed to declining output as the main driver, as farmers age and production falls. Domestic strawberry production peaked at 234,000 tons in 2019 and has declined since, reaching 155,000 tons in 2024. Strawberry growing acreage has also shrunk, falling from 17,418 acres in 2010 to an average of about 13,961 acres over the past three years.

Weather shocks can worsen supply conditions. Heavy rain from July through September last year damaged about 440 acres of strawberry greenhouse cultivation, including 264 acres in South Gyeongsang, a major strawberry-producing region, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said.

Tangerine prices have also stayed high. The retail price for 10 tangerines stood at 4,394 won as of Friday, up 1.5 percent from December 2025, according to Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation. Prices fell from a year earlier but still run 24.8 percent above the five-year average.

Consumer price data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics show tangerine prices rose around 20 percent from August through November last year. Cold weather delayed shipments by slowing the fruit's color shift from green to orange, and higher prices for other fruits later pushed shoppers toward the later-harvest tangerines, which arrived in better condition and drew stronger demand.

Higher seasonal fruit prices can add to grocery bills and weigh on consumer spending.

"My kids love strawberries, so they finish a kilogram of strawberries that costs 36,000 won in a day," said Choi, a mother of two in Gyeonggi. "As the price burden grows, strawberries feel like a luxury."

The government expects prices to ease as shipments increase.

"Strawberry shipments in January will likely rise 2.5 percent from a year earlier and crop conditions have recently been favorable, so prices should stabilize after mid-January," said Choi Sun-woo, the head of the fruit and vegetable outlook team at the Korea Rural Economic Institute.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Cho Jung-woo and read by an artificial voice.

"I would be shocked if a social media ban were introduced in Korea," says 14-year-old student Minn Su-hong.

Minn, who spends about two to four hours a day on social media, says the time he spends online affects his daily life, particularly his study schedule. Rather than a blanket ban, he says, limits on usage hours might help students like him better manage their time.

His view reflects the debate currently unfolding in Korea, after Australia's recent decision to impose the world's first nationwide ban on social media use for children under 16 raised broader questions globally about how far governments should go to protect the well-being of their young people.

Beginning Dec. 10, 2025, Australia enacted a ban preventing users under 16 from creating or maintaining personal accounts on major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube. Accounts held by underage users are expected to be removed, though children will still be able to view publicly accessible content without logging in.

The Australian government said the measure was necessary to "protect young Australians at a critical stage of their development" and to prevent exposure to content that could damage their health and well-being. Following Australia's lead, France is also reported to be considering a similar measure, with a draft bill aimed at restricting social media use for children under 15.

Renewed debate

In Korea, the issue has gained increased attention following remarks by Kim Jong-cheol, the newly-appointed chairman of the Korea Media Communications Commission, during his parliamentary confirmation hearing last month.

Asked whether he would consider regulating young people's social media use, Kim said that protecting minors was among the commission's top priorities and that regulation should be considered. His comments fueled speculation that the government could look at the adoption of an Australia-style social media ban, which would go well beyond Korea's existing law barring smartphones in the classroom, set to go into effect this March.

The commission later clarified that Kim's remarks did not signal an immediate push for a ban on social media, however, saying instead that it would explore a range of measures, including strengthening requirements for parental consent. Under Korea's current Network Act, social media services are required to obtain consent from a legal representative before collecting personal information from children under the age of 14.

Regardless of intent, the remarks drew strong reactions. Some parents welcomed the idea of tighter controls, arguing that existing safeguards were insufficient.

"I really think we need this," one parent wrote on an online parenting forum on Dec. 22, 2025, responding to a post about a possible social media ban. The commenter said children were easily exposed to provocative and inappropriate content.

Another parent, commenting on a separate post about Australia's decision, described concerns about a child who remained glued to a phone while commuting to school and private academies, during meals, while brushing teeth and even in the bathroom.

Statistics reflect those anxieties. The share of Korean adolescents classified as having a high reliance on smartphones rose to 42.6 percent in 2024, up from 40.1 percent the year before, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.

A 2024 internet usage survey by the ministry found that 97.3 percent of adolescents used smartphones, and that 67.6 percent of them were active on social media.

Adolescents in Korea spent the most time on YouTube last year, averaging 98 minutes a day, followed by Instagram at 49 minutes and X at 36 minutes, according to data from the technology research firm IGAWorks.

Limits of a blanket ban

Experts acknowledge the growing reliance on social media among Korean adolescents but caution against adopting a sweeping...

The author is a garden designer and the CEO of OhGardens.

London was colder than expected, with patches of thin ice lingering along the streets. From my lodgings, I took the underground toward the Natural History Museum. In recent years, London has filled leftover urban spaces with public gardens under the banner of regeneration. The most recent of these opened in July 2024 as a new forecourt garden in front of the museum.

The entrance, connected directly to the underground, makes a strong first impression. Visitors pass between towering stone walls, as if moving through a cave toward daylight. At the top, a garden of ferns unfolds, evoking the age when dinosaurs once roamed. This approach belongs to what landscape designers call an "Evolution Garden," a method that traces plant evolution through spatial arrangement. Plants first appeared around 480 million years ago, when sea levels were at their highest and vegetation began its transition from water to land.

The garden is composed mainly of ferns, mosses and stone, alongside displays of massive dinosaur bones. Ferns emerged roughly 300 million years ago, while dinosaurs appeared around 200 million years ago. The scene therefore suggests a moment between 200 million and 66 million years ago, when these forms of life coexisted. The garden does not depict what followed, but 66 million years ago, Earth experienced a mass extinction that wiped out dinosaurs and nearly 80 percent of living species. Spore-bearing plants such as ferns and mosses survived and continue to exist alongside us today.

From there, the garden quietly illustrates how plant evolution moved from ferns to flowering plants, eventually shaping environments such as grasslands and forests. An immense sweep of geological time is compressed into a relatively small outdoor space. Evolution gardens are not new, and the Natural History Museum did not invent the concept. Similar displays are often found in the controlled climates of botanical greenhouses.

What makes this project notable is that the idea has been brought outdoors into a temperate climate with real winters, where maintenance is more demanding. It also stands as a free public garden in the center of a global city, rather than a ticketed indoor exhibit.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

The author is a professor of economics at Seoul National University and a former commissioner of Statistics Korea.

Korea has twice introduced what it calls the "Miracle on the Han River" to the international community. The first referred to the country's rapid economic growth, which astonished the world. The name came from the Han River, which runs through the heart of Seoul. Korea emerged from the ruins of war and scarcity, escaped hunger and lived through a breathless era of building bridges and factories, pulling tomorrow into today. Growth and development took shape under the river's name and the world called it a miracle.

That first miracle expanded national wealth and sustained the population. It rebuilt the foundations of the state on top of shattered daily life. Yet it also left scars in proportion to its speed. There were people overlooked and wounds left unattended. Regret and reflection over what was left behind became part of that miracle's legacy.

Years later, the Han River was invoked again, this time not as a place but as a person. The writer Han Kang refused to turn away from human violence, trauma, silence and dignity. When she stood at the center of global attention, another "Miracle on the Han River" — playing off the author's name, which is pronounced the same way as the river's name in Korean — entered public discourse. Symbolized by Han's Nobel Prize in Literature, the second miracle showed the world that Korea was not only a country that grew richer but one that had attained moral and cultural depth. This miracle, too, cannot stand alone. Profound reflection can ring hollow if it lacks a foundation that sustains real lives.

The problem today is that Korea has long misunderstood these two miracles as opposing choices rather than complementary forces. One side speaks of expansion, the other of depth. One emphasizes results, the other values. As a result, advocating growth invites suspicion of disregarding democracy, while speaking of democracy is branded as denying growth. The extreme confrontation between so-called industrialization forces and democratization forces feels unnatural for a society that achieved both miracles.

A clear answer emerges when Korea's modern history is viewed through common sense. The first miracle needed the second. Speed required direction and achievement required meaning. The second miracle also needed the first. Care can endure only on a material foundation, and dignity cannot stand alone without the resources that sustain life. Neither miracle is complete on its own.

The South Han River and the North Han River emerge from different mountains. Their colors and currents differ. They flow separately but meet at Dumulmeori in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi. The two rivers do not compete. They do not argue over which is right or which carries more water. They shed the lightness and unease of flowing alone, accept each other's waters and become one river, the Han. Joined together, the river grows wider and deeper as it moves toward the Yellow Sea and eventually reaches the Pacific.

What Korea needs now is not ideological debate. More important than abstract arguments over right and wrong is how life actually works. Pragmatism grounded in evidence is not a cowardly abandonment of belief. It is a courageous stance that acknowledges mutual shortcomings and shares responsibility for the future. It is a humble posture that recognizes past achievements, embraces regret and asks what serves the next generation.

The language of industrialization must now respect the achievements of democratization, and the language of democratization must acknowledge the contributions of economic growth. The two are not rivals but partners. When the first two Miracles on the Han River merge into a single current, a third miracle can begin. It would be a miracle in which progress and human dignity flow in the same direction.

Korea has earned the right to dream of another miracle on the Han River. It has already...

The author, a former president of Seoul National University, is the chairman of the Korea Institute for Shared Growth.

The international order is in flux. Pax Americana, which underpinned global peace after World War II, is fading into history. The global division of labor built on free trade is gradually eroding as national interests take precedence. America First policies, marked by tariff barriers and supply chain realignment, have amplified uncertainty in the global economy, while a new Cold War dynamic is pushing countries into intense arms competition. These ripple effects followed U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to revive his ambition to "Make America Great Again."

The world is now locked in a battle for technological supremacy. Cutting-edge technology is no longer merely a tool of industrial production. As bloc-based economies and collective security systems weaken, a new paradigm has emerged in which high technology itself constitutes defense, economic power and even territory. This is the age of technology security and technology sovereignty. At its core lies AI. Global tech firms are racing toward "physical AI" that integrates autonomous driving, robotics and smart factories into the real world. Experts also predict that the era of artificial general intelligence and even artificial superintelligence may not be far off.

At the same time, advances in quantum computing capable of undermining existing security systems and a "new space" race to secure resources on the Moon and Mars are converging. Humanity is passing through a historic inflection point. Nations now face a stark choice: lead the digital civilization or fall into dependence on foreign technologies as so-called data colonies. While concerns over side effects persist, humanity is already undertaking a mass migration toward digital civilization at extraordinary speed.

Competition between the United States and China has hardened into an irreversible confrontation. The United States holds advantages in abundant human and material resources. China counters with its capacity to mobilize resources behind national strategic goals and to collect and manage vast stores of core national data. Beijing's ability to rapidly integrate military, administrative, financial, medical and even personal biometric data has generated a sense of crisis even among America's power elite.

In this unforgiving environment, the once-popular notion of "security with the United States and economy with China" has become as unrealistic as outdated theories of Northeast Asian balance. As a technological latecomer, Korea must respond with the resolve to enter the battlefield. The government speaks of becoming an AI powerhouse, but bold decisions to open new paths or a fundamental shift in how digital civilization is understood remain insufficient.

The most urgent task is a fundamental overhaul of the education system. If AI were to solve today's college entrance exam questions, how many minutes would it take? An education focused on quickly producing correct answers cannot nurture creative and daring talent. In a reality where autonomy is severely constrained, policies that simply promise to build more versions of Seoul National University warrant serious reconsideration. Korea must soberly examine how the United States treats talent development as a matter of national survival.

Energy and infrastructure expansion are equally pressing. Operating gigawatt-scale data centers requires electricity, water and speed. Despite the urgency of building small modular reactors, Korea remains mired in sterile debates over renewables versus nuclear power. If politics and government fail to keep pace with technological change, the consequences could be disastrous.

Equally essential are bold institutional reforms that tolerate failure and allow second chances. National development accelerates when creative destruction and technological innovation are encouraged on the foundations of protected pr...

The Kospi has climbed above the 4,500 mark. On Tuesday, the benchmark index closed at 4,525.48, up 67.96 points, or 1.52 percent, from the previous session. A rally that has continued into the opening days of the year has drawn liquidity back into equities, bringing the Lee Jae Myung administration's pledge of a "Kospi 5,000 era" into clearer view. A buoyant market can bolster confidence among households and firms and add momentum to the economy. It can also ease exchange rate pressures by pulling investment funds back home. Even so, it is difficult to read the surge as evidence of a broad economic recovery. The advance is being powered largely by semiconductors, raising concerns about a so-called semiconductor mirage.

Concentration in chipmakers is intensifying. In just three trading sessions this year, Samsung Electronics has surged 15.8 percent and SK hynix 11.5 percent, together far outpacing the index's 7.3 percent gain. The two stocks now account for more than 35 percent of the Kospi's total market capitalization, an all-time high. This means the index can rise even when more stocks fall than rise. On Monday, when the Kospi jumped 147 points, more than half of listed shares actually declined.

This lopsided rally reflects underlying economic realities. Korea's exports surpassed $700 billion last year, setting a new record. The feat was driven by a boom in memory demand linked to AI, which lifted semiconductor exports by 22.2 percent year on year. Beyond chips, however, the picture was far less encouraging. Petrochemicals, secondary batteries and steel saw exports fall by 11.4 percent, 11.9 percent and 9.0 percent, respectively. Nine of the country's 15 major export categories posted negative growth.

Strong semiconductor performance is welcome. The risk is overreliance. Excessive concentration can leave both the economy and financial markets structurally vulnerable, while widening gaps between export industries and between exports and domestic demand. Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong recently said that excluding the information technology sector, growth would be limited to about 1.4 percent, well below the central bank's overall forecast of 1.8 percent. Recovery gaps across sectors, he warned, could widen the disconnect between headline indicators and lived economic conditions, making a K-shaped recovery neither sustainable nor complete.

A stock market rally detached from the real economy also risks deepening inequality by widening the divide between asset holders and wage earners. Rather than simply cheering the index's rise, policymakers should focus on easing excessive concentration and ensuring growth gains spread more evenly across sectors. That will require loosening regulations to foster new industries and pushing ahead with structural reforms so the benefits of growth extend beyond a narrow group of winners.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice.

LAS VEGAS — Boston Dynamics has established a pilot line capable of producing up to 1,000 Atlas humanoid robots in Massachusetts, CEO Robert Playter told the Korea JoongAng Daily. The company also plans to integrate Google's Gemini AI into its robots.

The Hyundai Motor-backed Massachusetts-based robotics startup aims to scale production to 30,000 units by 2028, potentially at a full-scale plant adjacent to Hyundai's massive EV facility in Georgia.

"Up to 1,000 Atlas robots can be produced at our pilot line at our headquarters, and we already have numerous manufacturing clients — ranging from logistics to food industries — interested in purchasing," Playter said on the sidelines of Hyundai Motor Group's presentation at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on Jan. 5, during which the Korean automaker unveiled the Atlas robot and outlined its robotics strategy.

"By around 2028, we expect to be able to sell to external clients as well," he added.

Playter's remarks follow Hyundai's earlier announcement that tens of thousands of Atlas robots will be deployed across the manufacturing plants of Hyundai affiliates, including Kia, Hyundai Mobis and Hyundai Wia, by 2028. The robots' first assignment will be parts sequencing, with plans to expand into final assembly tasks by around 2030.

Designed for real-world industrial deployment, Atlas features 56 degrees of freedom, human-sized hands embedded with tactile sensors and joints capable of 360-degree rotation, maximizing flexibility and efficiency in manufacturing settings. The robot can lift payloads of up to 50 kilograms (110 pounds), reach heights of 2.3 meters (7 feet, 6 inches), operate in temperatures ranging from minus 20 to 40 degrees Celsius (minus 4 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit) and is water-resistant and washable.

When asked how Atlas compares with competitors such as Tesla's Optimus or Figure AI's Figure 02, CEO Robert Playter said Atlas is "stronger than a human and has a larger range of motion."

"Ultimately, robots are going to be operating among us in all aspects. They're going to be in our homes, you're going to see them in our communities and we'll be interacting with them. It's going to be fascinating and really entertaining," he said. "But we don't think that's the right place to start because robots are expensive to build, and we have to work down the cost curve.

"As we make robots that are more and more capable, we have to make them safe to interact with. So we believe that the safe, cost-effective place to start this journey is in factories, but the next step will be services that interact with the community, and then ultimately they'll be caring for [older adults] in our homes or maybe even our children."

On Monday, Boston Dynamics also announced a strategic collaboration with Google DeepMind, aiming to integrate the U.S. tech giant's robotics AI foundation models into its humanoid robots.

Under the partnership, the companies will conduct joint research on AI models for complex robotic control to accelerate the safe and efficient deployment of humanoid robots with tangible real-world applications.

Hyundai Motor shares closed at 308,000 won ($213) on Tuesday, up 1.2 percent from the previous trading session, after reaching a record-breaking intraday high of 330,000 won — the highest figure in history for the company. The jump occurred after news of its partnership with Google broke.