South Korea sets out 121 billion won physical AI plan for 2027
South Korea’s science ministry presented a plan to put 121 billion won into physical AI work in 2027, covering core models, training infrastructure and field demonstrations. The announcement at a Seoul industry event gives funding figures and proposed projects that were absent from the previous day’s event programme. A public hearing remains ahead for part of the research programme, so the plan should not be treated as completed spending.
Artificial Intelligence··Evening
Ministry puts a number on next year’s work
South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT presented a plan on October 13 to invest 121 billion won in physical AI in 2027. Physical AI here refers to systems that perceive and act in settings such as factories, logistics facilities and robotics. The announcement at Physical AI Alliance Day in Seoul adds a funding figure and project directions to the previous day’s event programme. It describes planned public spending, not money already disbursed.[1], [2]
The two reports describe the ministry’s funding direction and a larger 2027 effort. They describe work on core technologies, data and training infrastructure, and demonstrations in real settings. The event had been advertised as a briefing on future direction, but the earlier programme gave no 121 billion won investment figure. The new budget outline is the reader-facing development; the venue and speeches provide its context.[1], [2]
Models, training data and field trials receive allocations
The Institute for Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation plans 55 billion won in national funds for core technologies. The proposed work includes a general physical AI model, simulators that combine real and virtual learning data, and ways for robots to act with little delay. This is a proposed research programme. A public hearing is scheduled for the following month before that part formally begins.[1]
The National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) is set to put 40 billion won into a physical AI training centre, according to the same report. Its role is to secure behavioural data and provide a place where technologies can be demonstrated and checked with partners. These allocations turn a broad ambition into identifiable model and data projects. The agencies still have to execute the work and demonstrate whether the systems perform in industrial settings.[1]
Industrial tests extend beyond the laboratory
The ministry also wants to carry model development into applications such as logistics and manufacturing. News1 describes a wider government discussion that includes small-business manufacturing trials and autonomous work in agriculture and ports. Those other ministry figures belong to their own programmes; they should not be added to the science ministry’s 121 billion won as though they formed one approved fund. The reporting describes directions for separate projects and demonstrations.[2]
The announced hearing and trials mark the steps still to come. The October 13 briefing supplied an amount, responsible agencies and proposed work that were not present in the October 12 agenda for Physical AI Techweek. No completed robot model or measured industrial result was reported. Its immediate significance is that ministries and agencies have specified where the next year’s physical AI effort is intended to go.[1], [2]
