Delivery Robots to Train With Unaltered Footage, Boosting Autonomous Driving Safety

Korea Chamber of Commerce and Ministry of Science and ICT Convene 'ICT Regulatory Sandbox Review Committee'

Regulatory Sandbox Approval Granted for Advanced Autonomous Driving

Regional Channel Commerce Broadcasting Service Also Receives Temporary Approval

Autonomous delivery robots will now be able to use vivid, unaltered video footage, rather than previously required mosaic-censored images, for artificial intelligence (AI) training. This change is expected to significantly enhance both the safety and precision of urban navigation.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Science and ICT announced on May 6 that the "ICT Regulatory Sandbox Review Committee" had convened and approved three projects supported by the Sandbox Support Center of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The project that garnered the most attention during this review was the "Advancement of Autonomous Delivery Robot System Utilizing Original Video Data" initiative, submitted by Neubility Co., Ltd. Previously, the Personal Information Protection Act required that video data captured by mobile video processing devices be mosaic-censored, which made it difficult for autonomous robots to accurately identify pedestrians or obstacles in complex urban environments. The committee granted an exemption, citing expectations for improved safety due to enhanced precision in autonomous driving technology, as well as overall growth in the autonomous driving industry.

With this regulatory sandbox approval, Neubility will be able to use original video data to improve the robots' perception capabilities and to verify driving safety features such as sudden stops and evasive maneuvers. However, certain conditions were attached: use of the data for personal identification purposes is strictly prohibited, robust safeguards for video data must be established, and a step-by-step management system must be implemented.

The "Regional Cable Channel Commerce Broadcasting Service for Multiple System Operators," proposed by the Korea Cable Television Association and others, also received temporary approval. This service allows regional channels operated by cable broadcasters to promote and sell products made by local small businesses and farmers to viewers, specifically during consumer promotion events organized by the government or local authorities.

The applicant companies support the entire sales process—from content production to ordering and settlement—for small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners who often find it difficult to access home shopping channels or online marketplaces. Products are introduced on cable regional channels nationwide for a set duration and time, and viewers receive personalized product recommendations based on big data such as subscription information and viewing history. An ultra-simple payment system has been introduced, enabling viewers to easily purchase products by scanning a QR code on their TV screen.

The committee noted that, during the regulatory sandbox period, more than 560 companies participated, over 830,000 products were sold, and sales reached approximately 34 billion won, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of the initiative. The service was found to provide new sales channels for local small businesses, revitalize the local economy, and improve consumer benefits. Accordingly, temporary approval was granted, with conditions that broadcasts are limited to government- or local authority-led consumer promotion events, up to three broadcasts per day within a total of three hours, and fair and reasonable product selection.

Lee Jongmyung, Head of the Industrial Growth Division at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated, "This review session achieved meaningful regulatory innovation in areas such as advanced AI autonomous driving technology and region-based commerce platforms. We will continue to actively support the sandbox so it can serve as a platform to foster new industries and invigorate the everyday economy."

Exterior view of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.