First Step Toward Humanoid Robot Commercialization... Korean Component Industry Takes on Uncertainty

Korean Component Makers Begin Supplying Parts to Manufacturers
Dedicated Robot Component Factories and Global Production Bases Emerging
Parts Makers Once Said "Impossible," Now Actively Investing

The domestic robotics industry has taken its first step toward making the commercialization of humanoid robots a new axis of growth. As major conglomerates accelerate development with the goal of unveiling their products at CES 2026, the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition early next year, key component manufacturers-such as those producing motors and reducers-are also preparing for mass production despite significant uncertainties.

According to coverage by Asia Economy on the 17th, some domestic robot component manufacturers have recently begun supplying parts and preparing for mass production for robot manufacturers. SBB Tech, a reducer manufacturer, is currently conducting pilot production of actuators used in robots and plans to begin full-scale mass production in the second half of the year. The company recently established a dedicated actuator factory in Cheonan and has started operating its production line.

Technological competition is also spreading across the component industry. Motor manufacturer Hyzen R&M is developing prototype humanoid robot components and supplying them to manufacturers. In addition, it plans to unveil actuator products that can be used throughout a humanoid robot's body in the second half of the year. Kim Seokjung, Director of the Hyzen R&M Research Center, stated, "Unlike collaborative robots, the drive modules required for humanoid robots must be capable of achieving higher speeds. Since no such products have been developed domestically, we are producing samples and supplying them to manufacturers for discussion."

Securing overseas production bases is also underway. Robotis, which manufactures robot motors and finished products, is expanding its global production bases. Last month, Robotis announced that it would establish a robot manufacturing plant in Uzbekistan and invest in core facilities such as a data factory, precision machining, and motor production. The company plans to invest 100 billion won for facility investment and operating funds. Robotis is also reportedly planning to release an actuator for robot fingers next month.

Aerial view of Robotis Uzbekistan factory. Robotis.

The domestic market atmosphere has also changed significantly. At the beginning of this year, the humanoid robot industry itself did not exist in Korea. As a result, even if component manufacturers independently developed products for humanoid robots, there were almost no cases where these products were actually supplied. Manufacturers, who needed to start with research and development before supply, faced a reality where there was demand but no available suppliers. At the time, the prevailing sentiment in the component industry was, "We cannot accept small orders in a situation where there is no guarantee of future large-scale supply."

However, recently, as Hyundai Motor Company has accelerated the push for robot commercialization together with its subsidiary Boston Dynamics, and the government has begun supporting the robotics industry, the atmosphere is rapidly shifting. In particular, some conglomerates that have entered robot manufacturing used products from overseas component manufacturers in Japan and China up to the prototype stage, but are now reportedly in the process of replacing these components with domestically produced ones. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is also pursuing technological localization from the development stage through the 'K-Humanoid Alliance,' a collaborative development model between robot companies and component manufacturers.

Nevertheless, uncertainties remain. Since domestic robot manufacturers are still in the product development stage, it is unclear whether large-scale component supply will materialize. Despite this, as the atmosphere shifts, companies that previously produced components for the automotive and defense industries are expanding their offerings to include motors, reducers, and drivers suitable for humanoid robots. A representative from the robot component industry said, "Memorandums of understanding and joint business development between companies are gradually progressing," adding, "The robot component business is reaching a critical inflection point."