Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport joins hands with North Jeolla Province, Jeonju and Jeonbuk National University to spread smart construction technology beyond Greater Seoul
South Korea is exploring ways to use AI and robots to improve safety and productivity on construction sites, a sector long considered slow to adopt robotic technology.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Thursday it signed an MOU with North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province, Jeonju, Jeonbuk National University and the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology to establish an AI Construction Robot Innovation Center, with all five parties agreeing to work closely together on the initiative.
The ministry said it hopes the center will help extend smart construction technologies — including robotics, which have largely been confined to Greater Seoul and large companies — to regional areas across the country.
Under the agreement, the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology will draw on its expertise to support research and development and commercialization efforts by private firms. North Jeolla Province, Jeonju and Jeonbuk National University will provide space for the center, train personnel and run technology support programs for tenant companies.
Industry officials expect that wider adoption of robot technology on construction sites will reduce accidents by taking over hazardous tasks while also boosting overall productivity.
"I hope this agreement to establish the innovation center marks an important turning point in spreading the benefits of smart construction to small and medium-sized enterprises and regional areas," Minister Kim Yun-deok said. "We will continue to expand innovation centers across different regions to foster a smart construction ecosystem, accelerate construction AI transformation, and simultaneously achieve the goals of revitalizing local economies and balanced national development."
smh@heraldcorp.com
