South Korea’s Defence Ministry opened the military’s first artificial intelligence (AI) transformation base on Monday (October 12), with the aim of developing efficient robotic systems for dangerous military tasks. The facility is located in Pangyo, south of Seoul. It will train humanoid and multi-legged robots using physical AI data and advanced AI models.
Nearly 150 officials, including representatives from the science and industry ministries, attended the opening ceremony. At the base, the robots will be trained to carry supplies into risky areas, dispose of explosive ordnance and clear land mines. This is intended to reduce the burden on soldiers and keep them from being exposed to potentially fatal missions.
Why the project matters
The ministry said the initiative focuses on setting up a world-leading defence hub specialising in physical AI, which enables machines to connect with real-world environments. Under the programme, South Korea will establish five AI transformation (AX) bases across the country, involving individual military branches and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
One of the facilities will be set up at the JCS headquarters in Seoul’s Yongsan district. The ministry also intends to deepen collaboration with private tech firms so that commercially developed AI systems can be incorporated into military operations.
The move comes as South Korea relies increasingly on automation to offset military personnel shortages driven by its falling birth rate. As Anadolu has previously reported, the country’s military has been ramping up AI adoption to sustain operational readiness despite a shrinking troop base, including testing humanoid robots on naval vessels.
The development follows North Korea’s recent launch of several ballistic missiles into the East Sea, the latest in an ongoing series of missile tests by Pyongyang.