Hyundai Deploys Three Service Robots at Seoul HQ, Advancing Embodied AI in Korea

Hyundai Motor Group has deployed three service robots at its renovated headquarters in Seoul: DAL-e Gardener for landscaping, DAL-e Delivery for beverage distribution, and Spot, a security robot developed by its subsidiary Boston Dynamics. This initiative aims to enhance employee convenience and foster a human-robot coexistence workplace environment. DAL-e Gardener handles plant pruning and watering, DAL-e Delivery distributes beverages within office buildings, and Spot conducts autonomous patrols. Together, these robots cover three typical commercial application scenarios: greenery maintenance, delivery services, and security. By deploying them on its own premises, Hyundai is collecting real-world operational data to validate the stability of navigation algorithms, the fluency of human-robot interaction, and the efficiency of multi-robot coordination. These robots originate from two distinct R&D systems: Spot embodies Boston Dynamics’ quadrupedal motion control technology, while the DAL-e series was developed by a Korean team with a focus on productizing service-oriented applications. Their joint deployment marks the integration phase of Hyundai’s dual-track strategy—combining acquisitions with in-house development—and represents an initial closed loop encompassing “cutting-edge technology integration → product implementation → scenario validation.” Previously, the DAL-e delivery robot had undergone trials in Seoul and other locations for last-mile delivery of food, fresh groceries, and parcels. Its routine deployment at Hyundai’s headquarters is now seen as a pivotal step in Korea’s embodied intelligence sector, transitioning from technological demonstrations toward practical applications. Meanwhile, the South Korean government has recently rolled out a series of policies to support the robotics industry. In 2023, it announced plans to invest over KRW 3 trillion by 2030 to expand the domestic robotics market from KRW 5.6 trillion to more than KRW 20 trillion and deploy one million robots nationwide. In April 2025, it launched the “K-Humanoid Robot Alliance,” and in August unveiled an “AI Grand Transformation” initiative, aiming to position Korea as a global leader in physical AI technologies and develop general-purpose humanoid robots for logistics, manufacturing, and other sectors within five years. Currently, Korea’s embodied intelligence industry is led by Hyundai Motor Group and Samsung. Leveraging Boston Dynamics, Hyundai plans to introduce the Atlas humanoid robot into production lines by 2028, achieve annual production of 30,000 units by 2030, and establish a manufacturing facility in the United States. Samsung, meanwhile, is pursuing a “self-developed, self-used” approach through its majority stake in Rainbow Robotics and dedicated internal teams, leveraging its semiconductor and electronics manufacturing operations to drive humanoid robot adoption. Additionally, SMEs such as Tesolo and Neubility are rapidly growing in niche areas like end-effectors and autonomous delivery, while Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution, and Hyundai Mobis provide battery and component support. However, Korea’s localization rate for core robotic components remains around 40%, lower than the over-60% level achieved by some Chinese manufacturers. Moreover, the South Korean military is exploring collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group to study the deployment of robots in frontline operations to address manpower shortages. This signals that Korea’s robotics strategy is expanding beyond commercial domains into national defense, gradually moving from planning toward real-world implementation across diverse scenarios.