According to the World Robotics Annual Report 2024, there are already 1,102 robots per 10,000 employees in South Korea, a figure that far exceeds the global average. The application of robotics in South Korea is not limited to the industrial field, but also extends to service industries such as hospitals and restaurants. This cross-border application shows the flexibility and breadth of Korean robotics, and also reflects the country's leading position in automation.
In the context of the rapid development of global industrial automation, robotics is reshaping the manufacturing landscape. The phenomenon of industrial robots replacing 10% of the labor force in South Korea marks the far-reaching impact of robotics on traditional labor-intensive industries. In China, South Korea and the global market, the widespread application of robotics has not only changed the industrial structure, but also formed a close synergy with the semiconductor industry. This profound change not only brings unprecedented opportunities, but also poses new challenges to the technology layout and supply chain stability of enterprises.
Ⅰ the regional development trend of the robot market
1. South Korea: Technology leadership and high density
South Korea has the highest density of robots in the world, with more than 1,000 robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers, 10 times the global average, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
Main Areas: Korean robotics mainly serves the electronics and automotive manufacturing industries. For example, Samsung Electronics' cleanroom production line uses a large number of high-precision robots to ensure the accuracy of wafer handling and chip packaging.
Technological advantages: Korean companies such as Hyundai Robotics and Doosan Robotics are promoting the popularization of collaborative robots and intelligent robots in the field of high-end manufacturing.
Social impact: While replacing 10% of the labor force with industrial robots, it also exposes the problem of reduced employment opportunities for low-skilled workers, and it is urgent to strengthen labor skills training at the policy level.
Figure: South Korean robots have taken over 10% of the workforce (picture is for illustration only)
2. China: A late-mover advantage in a fast-rising world
China is the world's largest market for industrial robots, with sales reaching 274,000 units in 2022, accounting for 44% of the global total. Although the density of robots in China (187 per 10,000 workers) is lower than that of South Korea, the market growth potential is huge.
Policy promotion: For example, "Made in China 2025" clarifies that robots are the core areas of high-end manufacturing, and sets up special funds to support R&D and industrialization.
Market potential: The explosion of automation demand in emerging industries such as photovoltaics and new energy vehicles has promoted the continuous growth of the industrial robot market.
Technological bottlenecks: In the field of high-end robots, China still relies on imports from Japan, South Korea and Europe. Local companies such as Estun Robotics and SIASUN Robotics are accelerating the deployment of high-precision robots, but there is still a need to address the technology gap of key components (such as servo motors and sensors) in the short term.
3. Global: Collaborative robots and smart manufacturing lead the future
The global industrial robot market is expected to reach $50 billion by 2023 and continues to expand at a compound annual growth rate of more than 10%.
1. Technology trends: Collaborative robots (Cobots) are becoming the new darling of the market due to their flexibility and ease of operation, and are expected to account for 30% of the market share by 2030.
2. Geopolitical implications: U.S.-China technology competition and export restrictions on high-end robotics have driven the regionalization of supply chains, further strengthening the position of Japan and South Korea in the global market.
Ⅱ the far-reaching impact of robots on the semiconductor industry
1. Improve production efficiency
The use of robots in semiconductor production is crucial, and its precision and efficiency are unmatched by humans.
Wafer handling: The robot operates with micron-level precision during handling, cleaning, and etching. For example, TSMC has improved wafer handling efficiency by 30% with robotic automation systems.
Chip packaging and testing: Automating the packaging process has greatly reduced yield loss, and Samsung has increased production yield by 20% after applying robots in its chip packaging process.
2. Drive demand for technology
The semiconductor industry has put forward higher technical requirements for robots:
1. High-precision operation: Sub-micron operation places extremely high demands on robot control systems and machine vision technology.
2. Intelligent system: By combining with AI, the robot can adjust production parameters in real time to achieve more flexible operation. For example, the use of cobots in complex production lines is becoming a new trend in semiconductor production.
3. Enhance supply chain resilience
The wide application of robots in production has reduced the dependence on manual labor and improved the supply chain's ability to resist risks in emergencies such as epidemics.
1. Case study: During the pandemic, South Korea's semiconductor production lines were largely unaffected by labor shortages due to the high degree of robotization, ensuring the stability of the global supply chain.
Ⅲ Geopolitical opportunities and challenges for the robot industry
1. Challenges
1. Technology export restrictions: U.S. export controls on China's high-end technologies, such as robot control chips and servo motors, could further delay the upgrading of China's high-end robotics industry.
2. Regional competition: Japan and South Korea are strengthening their market competitiveness through regional supply chain layout. For example, Hyundai Robotics is expanding its production base in Southeast Asia to seize emerging markets.
2. Opportunity
1. China's technological independence: Chinese companies such as Huawei are accelerating the development of core components such as robot control systems and sensors to get rid of foreign dependence.
2. Regional cooperation: The cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea under the RCEP framework will help build a closer supply chain for robots and their parts, and inject new momentum into the regional economy.
3. Smart Manufacturing Demand: The strong global demand for smart manufacturing solutions provides broad market opportunities for robotics companies. For example, the use of cobots in the medical and logistics sectors is rapidly expanding.
Ⅳ summary and outlook
The adoption of industrial robots is accelerating globally, and the markets in South Korea, China, and other countries are showing significant regional characteristics.
1. South Korea continues to lead the global robotics market with its technological leadership, providing key support for high-end manufacturing such as semiconductors.
2. Driven by policy promotion and market demand, China has rapidly expanded the scale of the industrial robot market, and made up for the technical shortcomings in the high-end field through technological innovation.
3. The global market promotes the further integration of robotics with artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and other fields through technology convergence and collaboration models, bringing continuous innovation momentum to the semiconductor industry.
In the face of geopolitical and supply chain risks, the deep integration of the robot industry and the semiconductor industry will bring important opportunities to the global economy. Through regional cooperation and technological independence, this trend is expected to lead the further upgrading of the manufacturing industry and shape a new pattern of global intelligent production. In the future, robots will not only be a key tool for industrial production, but also an important strategic asset for global technological competition.
