Science ministry, Nature editors discuss humanoid robotics push

The science ministry said Wednesday it held a luncheon meeting with editors of the international journal Nature and officials from KAIST to discuss global robotics research trends and the direction of humanoid technology development.

The meeting took place at KAIST in Daejeon, where the two institutions are jointly hosting the 2026 Nature Conference on autonomous robotics from Oct. 13 to 15. The gathering brought together Kim Sung-soo, director general of the ministry's research and development policy office, KAIST President Bae Choong-sik, Olga Bubnova, chief editor of Nature Sensors, and other Nature editors, along with KAIST robotics professors including Myung Hyun and Shim Hyun-chul.

Participants discussed the core technologies and challenges standing in the way of commercializing humanoids, ways to strengthen competitiveness by drawing on domestic manufacturing and research capabilities, and ways to expand international joint research.

"Physical AI technologies, including humanoids, are core technologies that will determine future national competitiveness," Kim said. He added that the ministry will move quickly to build a humanoid ecosystem through its three major mega-projects and the K-Moonshot initiative, and will actively reflect the views raised in the meeting in future humanoid research and development policy.

First Vice Minister Koo Hyuk-chae, in a video address to the conference, stressed the importance of physical AI that acts in the real world beyond digital space, and the role of humanoids at the center of that innovation. He said he hoped the conference would serve as an opportunity to advance robotics technology and promote international research cooperation.