Dongsin Son of LG CNS: "Korea's On-Site Strengths Can Make It Number One in Robot Applications"

Dongshin Son, a member of Future Robotics Lab, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at LG Iron Spark in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. 2026.2.27 Photo by Hyunmin Kim

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"While the United States and China are ahead in both software and hardware, South Korea can take the lead in the application sector by proactively expanding on-site implementation."

Dongshin Son, a member of the Future Robotics Lab at LG CNS, stated in a recent interview with The Asia Business Daily at the LG CNS headquarters in Magok, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, "As a manufacturing powerhouse, South Korea is able to quickly produce case studies at industrial sites such as factories and logistics centers. Based on these, the country should move rapidly in the application sector by developing and providing solutions whose effectiveness has been proven in the field."

Although significant progress has been made in automating areas with industrial and collaborative robots, the process of automating the most difficult, complex, and lengthy tasks with humanoids equipped with robotic brains remains extremely challenging. In this regard, China has not yet achieved full-scale mass production in terms of hardware, and even the United States has not yet reached commercialization in areas requiring precision work. Son explained, "There are still opportunities when it comes to robots performing actual work using their hands and arms, especially their fingers." He added, "South Korea can take the lead in the application sector by creating real-world case studies."

LG CNS has been pursuing the robotics business since 2012 and began generating significant revenue in the logistics sector from 2017. To preempt the physical artificial intelligence (AI) market, LG CNS established the dedicated Future Robotics Lab in June last year. This organization was formed by integrating three previously separate units: research, field implementation, and AI technology capabilities. Dongshin Son, who graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Nuclear Engineering, has served as project manager for the humanoid service development project in 2015, head of new technology development in R&D in 2016, and head of AI business in 2021. He currently leads the smart logistics center and robotics.

Describing the Future Robotics Lab, Son said, "We have established the current system by integrating the capabilities of our robot software and hardware research teams, the teams implementing robots in industrial sites, and those researching AI technology, including robotic intelligence." He added, "We are currently developing large-scale operational platforms, robot learning platforms, and industrial solutions." The Future Robotics Lab is planning to deploy humanoid robots in the field by 2028 and is developing two platforms for robot learning, integration, control, and operation, as well as industry-specific solutions focused on robotic intelligence.

Dongshin Son, a member of Future Robotics Lab, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at LG Iron Spark in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. 2026.2.27 Photo by Hyunmin Kim

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Son emphasized that South Korea must actively pursue a robot-based physical AI strategy to resolve the dual challenges of a demographic cliff and the weakening competitiveness of the manufacturing industry. He explained that in manufacturing sites such as shipyards, the number of skilled workers is naturally decreasing every year, and that the adoption of humanoid robots is a strategic measure to maintain industrial competitiveness, going beyond simply expanding particular industries.

Son stated, "The robotics industry is also linked to the reshoring strategy, which aims to bring back production bases that were relocated overseas by advancing automation." He noted, "If a robot-based automation system is established, there will be less need to move factories to countries like Vietnam or China solely because of lower labor costs." With highly skilled robot operators at the center, South Korea can restructure its domestic production system, which can serve as a strategy for both addressing the structural issue of population decline and maintaining or strengthening industrial competitiveness.

Son further explained, "The paradigm shift of bringing factories that have moved overseas back to South Korea is also a long-term scenario," adding, "A strategy that leverages robotic implementation capabilities to return overseas production bases to South Korea could influence the overall structure of Korean industry."

He also emphasized that, since the robotics industry is led by the country that secures standards, the government should proactively participate in global discussions and expand joint research efforts to secure leadership in standardization. Son stated, "There are still insufficient safety standards for humanoid and intelligent robots," and added, "If relevant regulations and standards for robots working alongside humans in actual field settings are established quickly, South Korea can implement robots in the field faster than the United States and China."

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