South Korea Unveils $1.2 Trillion Plan to Dominate AI and Robotics

South Korea has announced a massive public-private investment package worth $1.2 trillion to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and robotics. President Lee Jae Myung declared, "We must ensure that the core elements of AI grow faster than in any other country" Source: lavanguardia. The plan includes three pillars: semiconductor manufacturing, AI data centers, and physical AI (robotics).

The Investment Breakdown

The government unveiled a $520 billion semiconductor cluster in the southwest, led by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix Source: portafolioco. Additionally, $650 billion will be invested in AI data centers over the next decade, with a target of 18.4 gigawatts of capacity by 2035 Source: portafolioco. These investments coincide with record export figures: in June 2026, South Korea's exports exceeded $100 billion for the first time, fueled by a 199.5% surge in semiconductor sales Source: infobae.

Robotics and Physical AI

South Korea already boasts the world's highest robot density (1,220 per 10,000 manufacturing workers) Source: lavanguardia. The new plan aims to commercialize humanoid robots in ten major sectors by 2028 and train 10,000 specialists in robotics and AI. Hyundai Motor Group, owner of Boston Dynamics, plans to deploy Atlas robots in its U.S. plant by 2028 Source: lavanguardia. Goldman Sachs estimates South Korea's supply chain could support 74,000 humanoid robots by 2030 and 412,000 by 2035 Source: lavanguardia.