In order for Korea's robot industry to be activated, the market demand for robots must expand internationally. Currently, Korea is able to facilitate and develop its demand in international technological markets.
Mr. Shin Kyung-Churl, PhD and President of Yujin Robot and the chairman of the Korea Association of Robotics (KAR), revealed these opinions in his exclusive interview with Korea IT Times.
"Robot products, whose performance was verified in Korea," the robot industry veteran said, "hold a high possibility to be successful in overseas markets." Touching upon the fact that Korea's robotics industry is well equipped for global competition, Shin emphasized that it is most important to be strong in the domestic market.
By sustaining the demand in the domestic market, in one or two years, Korean robot manufacturers will be well established and prospering in overseas markets as well. Therefore, remaining localized within Korea is not the answer to a prosperous and growing robotics technology sector. The question is, then, where is Korea's robot technological sector currently standing in relation to global competitiveness in the technological market
For the last six years, businesses within Korea have been developing and building upon their robotics technology. Also, within the last four years, the Korean government has designated the robotics technological industry as one of the most important economic growth sectors within the country. Shin asserts that, from these historical facts, Korea's robotics technological sector has been and will be producing fine technological products.
Shin insists that the ultimate goal for robot technology is to create and produce a robot that can perfectly communicate with human beings, enabling it to fulfill every need that a human society could desire. "For instance," Shin states, "currently a cleaning robot, an educational robot, a network robot, or a guard robot has arrived at the stage where they can explain functions even though these robots have not reached their maximum commercialization potential."
He asserts, though, that the demand for these robots will increase on the international market as the government continues to provide help to the robot businesses.
These futuristic robots can be used in such programs as u-City and u-Home projects by utilizing and developing these robots, the development and expansion of these buzzed-about programs will largely improve. This dream, though, can only turn into reality through active dialogue between many technological sectors. The construction field, home network field, telecommunication field, and robot creation field must communicate to construct a successful commercialization model.
In robot business circles' task to develop the robotics industry even more, the president said: "In the case of reconstructing the robot, the first reformation must be attended to well. Second, functions such as the inhalation and navigation must be recreated carefully to produce an extremely effective robot."
Shin, however, mentioned a price problem that would arise if the new robot receives a popular response from the public market. After the new robot's activation, the demand for the robot will actually decrease its market price. "In particular," he said, "providing a robot market comes to show its market scale to some degree, the robot manufacturer company's commercialization plan will move with a pre-circulation structure as normally done and, therefore, alter its final circulation price."
Regarding the robot construction fields and industries that Korea already controls in other countries, Shin flatly stated: "It is too early to say anything about the effect that may come from this change in the robot industry." To take a lead globally, he asserted that it is as important to be recognized at home with the commercializing of home products and abroad.
The foil in Shin's plan is that countries that have profited for the last few decades from their robotic industrial sectors, such as Japan, USA, and Europe, are currently suffering difficulties in the selling of their robots. Shin admits to this problematic globally growing trend and responds by stating: "Although the technological development of robots is necessary, it is far more important to construct a social system that supports the use of these robots. For example, focusing on building a demand for these robots in the educational sector of human society will guarantee their sustainability as a commercial product."
Robots together tomorrow With regard to the upcoming Robot World 2007 forum to be held under the title ROBOT, Together & Tomorrow from October 18th to 21st in COEX Mall, he expressed that he possesses big expectations for the conference. Shin states that the exhibition itself should be much larger than previous conference exhibitions such as the Korea Robot Conference, the International Robot Conference and the International Robot Industry Show.
Prior to the inauguration of Robot World 2007, Shin is scheduled to present a speech entitled Robots and Digital Convergence at the IT policy forum organized by SEK, the Solution and Contents Exhibition of Korea, in June of this year. His speech will discuss using robots as a tool for future digital technology to be grafted on. He will include in this speech the need for robots not to be solely commercially focused on the needs of the Korean market, but also catering to the needs of the global sphere. Robots of the future must meet the diverse needs of a people from many regions of the world.
Regarding to the technological sectors ability to create and activate such ideal robots, Shin ensured that Korea's robotic industry continues to quickly advance. For example, the Yujin Robotics Company has sold over one thousand cleaning robots this year. In Dubai alone, the company is expected to sell at least seven thousand cleaning robots.
In addition, the iClebo Free cleaning robot has displayed perfect performance in helping maintain a region that is known for its dirt coming from the localities' immense deserts. For more information on these robots, please check the company's website at www.yujinrobot.com.
Interview
Q: What is the direction in which Korea's robotic industry is working
A: The direction of our nation's robotics technology is towards enabling all users to create and/or produce any item they desire through simply communicating with the robots. In that context, robot have yet to achieve the ability to be commercialized both at home and abroad; however, provided that the current developing robot's commercialization will be successful, these styles of robots will make a strong entrance into the international market.
Q: Then, can we see that robot is actually utilized as a finished product It is said that Yujin Robot Company's iCLEBO has already crossed a developmental breaking point and is only currently being improved on for market sale.
A: The cleaning robot is currently being sold both online and offline. Entertainment and education robots are also entering the sales market. In addition, the network home robot and guidance airport and station robot are in pilot development. Once these robots finish their piloting stage, they can easily be successfully sold on the robotics market.
Q: What do you think about the task for successfully advertising and producing international demand for these robots
A: It is very important to expand past the domestic market and enter the international market. At the same time, the government's effort to secure internal robot market provides commercial support. Therefore, it is important that a demand for these robots is forged unto the international market while also respecting the Korean government's internal economic- security desires.
