South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport unveiled the draft of the Mobile Robot Special Act on August 12, 2026. This legislation aims to permit robots to be more widely used in various spaces of people's daily lives, including apartments, parking lots, factory facilities, and agricultural areas.
Once the law is enacted, robots can be more extensively utilized in various services such as package delivery, security monitoring, maintenance and repair, and electric vehicle charging. Additionally, safety regulations specific to each robot category will be established, and clear responsibility allocation will be defined in case of accidents or damages.
The government consulted with 43 robot companies and research institutions in Paju to gather business recommendations for this draft law before submitting it to the National Assembly for approval. South Korea has allowed autonomous robots to move on public sidewalks since November 2023, and this new legislation will serve as a framework for more deeply integrating robot technology into human society.
Ref: Technology Innovation
