South Korea has opened its first military base dedicated to transformation through artificial intelligence (AI), in an initiative aimed at developing robots capable of performing dangerous operations and reducing soldiers' exposure to life-threatening situations.
The new facility, located in Pangyo, south of Seoul, was inaugurated on Monday by the Ministry of Defense. According to the Yonhap news agency, citing the ministry, the center will train humanoid robots and multi-legged robots using artificial intelligence physical data and advanced AI models. About 150 officials, including representatives from the science and industry ministries, attended the opening ceremony.
The robots will be trained to perform a range of tasks in dangerous terrain, including transporting supplies, disposing of explosive ordnance and clearing minefields. Through the use of these systems, authorities aim to limit the direct involvement of military personnel in missions that could prove fatal.
The Ministry of Defense announced that the objective is to create an advanced center in the field of defense, specializing in artificial physical intelligence, a technology that enables machines to perceive and interact with the real environment.
The program envisions the establishment of five AI transformation bases across the country, involving various branches of the military and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. One of these facilities will be located at the Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters in the Yongsan area of Seoul.
In parallel, South Korean authorities aim to expand cooperation with private technology companies, with the aim of adapting artificial intelligence systems originally developed for the civilian sector for military use.
The initiative comes as South Korea is increasingly investing in the automation of its military capabilities, due to a declining birthrate and a shortage of personnel in its armed forces. The military is reportedly expanding its use of AI to maintain operational readiness with fewer troops, while also testing humanoid robots on warships.
