"Most robots available today remain in the demo stage. The real market will open only when they reach a level capable of replacing actual human labor."
Lee Kang-soo, CEO of Company K Partners (307930), made these remarks in an interview with Seoul Economic Daily on the 12th, discussing the future of the robotics industry and the growth potential of domestic robotics startups. While interest in humanoids and physical AI has grown with the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, Lee assessed that many challenges remain before robots can be deployed at actual industrial sites. He emphasized that this technological gap could be an important opportunity for Korea's robot startups and manufacturing ecosystem.
Lee, who has a deep understanding of the robotics industry and technology, will take the stage as a panelist at the Robotics Venture Forum of "Seoul Forum 2026," to be held on the 27th and 28th. He has recently led investments in promising humanoid and robotics companies such as WIRobotics, Lion Robotics, and Dhydhen Robotics. He is regarded as one of the key investors driving the growth of Korea's robot startup ecosystem.
Lee sees robots growing over the long term into a next-generation national growth engine rivaling semiconductors, and into a massive industry surpassing automobiles. The assessment factors in per-unit price and the expected number of robots per household. "Until now, the largest market in manufacturing has been automobiles, but robots are likely to be deployed at more than one unit each in homes and industrial sites," he said. "A market larger than the current automobile and part of the home appliance markets combined could open up."
Lee offered a sober assessment of the current level of global robot technology. He also believes there are many opportunities for domestic startups, as there is still a long way to go not only in software such as AI but also in hardware. "Optimus is also being shown mainly through videos, and the price and what kind of actuators are used are not clear," he said. "For robots to be actually used in the field, they must go beyond simply demonstrating walking or picking up objects and satisfy realistic conditions such as battery efficiency, durability, weight, price, and reliability."
He further noted that if innovative startups emerge in core component technologies such as robot hands, joints, and battery optimization, they can quickly capture the attention of the global market. "When I visit domestic universities and research institutes, I feel that technology is advancing at a remarkable pace," Lee said. "I frequently see startups that are only two or three years old preparing technologies that could change the landscape of the robot market."
He cited Korea's manufacturing value chain as the country's greatest strength in the development of the robot industry. He said the component manufacturing capabilities in engines, motors, and batteries accumulated by numerous suppliers centered on Hyundai Motor (005380) can also be applied to the robot industry. "The components that go into Hyundai Motor vehicles and those that go into robots are not significantly different," Lee said. "Just like the automobile industry, robots can secure cost and quality competitiveness only when the component ecosystem grows together." He added, "Building an ecosystem that can grow together with aerospace and defense conglomerates and startups is also important for the development of the robotics industry."
