Suncheon-si, Consecutive Robot Contest Selections... Robots Also Headed to Suncheon

Published 25 Apr.2023 14:32(KST)

Great Achievement in Robot Convergence Business and Robot Creative Education Selection

Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu) announced that it has achieved the great success of having two robot projects selected in the public contest hosted by the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

According to a survey conducted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the 20th of last month, the MZ generation (born 1985?2010) views AI and robotics as promising future industries. The MZ generation identified ‘AI and Robotics’ (30%), ‘Semiconductors’ (19.2%), ‘Secondary Batteries’ (11.1%), ‘Content Industry’ (7.3%), and ‘Pharmaceuticals and Bio’ (6.4%) as the leading industries expected to drive the domestic industry in 5 to 10 years.

[Photo by Suncheon City]

This year, Suncheon’s selected robot projects include the Service Platform Development Project’s Robot Convergence Business Support Project and the Robot Creative Education Project targeting small schools with fewer than 50 students, with a total project budget of 190 million KRW.

The city, having both projects selected, plans to leverage these public projects as a driving force to focus on and nurture robot education companies, support job creation, and ultimately develop into a differentiated ‘Welfare Robot Leading City’ unique to Suncheon.

To prevent regional exclusion through robotics, the city initiated a public contest project in 2022, developing ‘Sunbot,’ equipped with an emotional support program, followed by robot seminars, the Sunbot Academy, and Sunbot experience events.

This year, starting with the weekend experience program ‘Sunbot Experience with Suncheonman Job World,’ the city will upgrade Sunbot’s programs and conduct more advanced 4th Industrial Revolution Sunbot experience events, robot education for elementary students, camps, competitions, and diverse participatory programs such as ringing the Golden Bell quiz.

Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu of Suncheon said, “We have selected emotional robots, space, bio-food tech, ESG management, and wellness industry as the five core strategic projects of the 8th elected administration and will continue to pursue them. As a city specialized in welfare robots, we will embrace vulnerable groups,” adding, “We will establish a foundation so that Suncheon can become the vanguard in emotional robots among Jeollanam-do local governments.”

Meanwhile, Suncheon plans to continue its warm robot companionship community by applying for the ‘Socially Vulnerable Benefit Support Project’ targeting the disabled and elderly in May.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr