At The Shilla Seoul in Jung-gu, where special lectures and various sessions of "Seoul Forum 2026" took place on Tuesday, participants ranging from speakers to audience members engaged in lively discussions about artificial intelligence (AI), from robotics to everyday concerns about "how to make better use of generative AI." The event drew particular attention with a large turnout of students of various nationalities, including those from Ukraine and Colombia, currently enrolled at Korean universities.
Tony, a Ukrainian student attending Chung-Ang University through the Government of Korea Scholarship (GKS) program, said, "I came to the forum because I wanted to see and learn how AI technology is developing." He added, "I want to work at a Korean entertainment company that is making various attempts related to AI." Jose, a Colombian student majoring in electrical engineering at a Korean university, said, "I am very interested in the mechanisms by which humanoids operate," adding with enthusiasm, "There is a lot to take away from today's event."
Hong Sung-soo, a professor at Seoul National University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering who chaired Main Session 1, drew attention by sharing recent trends among Chinese companies. Sharing his experience attending a Chinese motor show, Professor Hong conveyed the atmosphere on the ground, saying, "The pace of technological advancement at Chinese companies is frightening." He added, "Nevertheless, in the robotics field, Hyundai Motor and Toyota are still doing well compared to other global players, including Volkswagen."
Michael Patrick Perry, head of commercial strategy at Persona AI, who delivered the keynote lecture on the first day and participated in the Session 1 panel discussion, responded to sharp questions with clear answers. When one participant asked why Persona AI had pursued robot development in shipbuilding rather than automobiles, he replied, "In shipbuilding, the cost savings achievable by replacing highly skilled labor such as welding are much greater." He continued, regarding the Korean investment environment for the robotics sector, "There is excellent insight into robotics, and we are paying attention to companies with the willingness to invest in robotics based on strong cash flow."
