President Lee Jae-myung visited JBNU's 'Physical AI Manufacturing Technology Demonstration Lab' at 4:00 p.m. on February 27 to tour the cutting-edge artificial intelligence research facilities. The visit was organized to encourage on-site researchers who are using AI technologies to transform regionally specialized industries and are dedicated to revitalizing the stagnant local economy and creating jobs.

This visit followed the visits to the demonstration lab by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyoung-hoon on January 26 and by Minister of Unification Jeong Dong-young on the 13th of this month. With senior government officials visiting the JBNU demonstration lab in quick succession within just over a month, observers say the government’s firm intention to develop Jeonbuk into a core hub for future Physical AI and AX (AI Transformation) industries has been reaffirmed.

On the day, the President, guided by Yang O-bong, President of JBNU, and Kim Sun-tae, Director of the Physical AI Convergence Technology Project Group, carefully inspected the main facilities of the 846 m² demonstration lab. He examined technologies that apply artificial intelligence to physical spaces to automate manufacturing processes such as assembly, inspection, and component transfer on the production floor.

He observed innovative R&D achievements, including collaboration between robots of different models and remote control of robotic arms, and watched the advanced process of collecting workers' motion data to train AI.

The President was briefed that, even at this pre-validation stage supported by the government, major automotive parts companies in the Jeonbuk region are achieving remarkable results from AI adoption, including increased productivity, cost reduction, and shortened process times.

He said, 'We must actively utilize AI to find a way out for regional economies suffering from labor shortages and aging,' and emphasized, 'The government will fully support large-scale R&D projects and demonstration processes for the AI transition (AX) of regional industries, including Jeonbuk, Gyeongnam, Gwangju, and Daegu.'

He then praised the researchers and company officials for establishing the demonstration lab in just four months, saying, 'You have worked very hard.' He also urged them to 'continue your efforts so that the AI technologies developed through the joint efforts of industry, academia, and research in Jeonbuk can spread throughout Korea's industries.'

President Lee Jae-myung and Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung concluded the on-site visit by cheering 'Fighting' together with the research team and taking commemorative photos.

The JBNU demonstration lab infrastructure was established as part of the 'Physical AI Pre-Validation Project (PoC),' implemented in the second half of 2025 with KRW 21.9 billion in national funding. Led by JBNU, the project involves large-scale participation from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Sungkyunkwan University, Hyundai Motor Company, Jeonbuk Technopark, CAMTIC Comprehensive Technology Institute, and regional manufacturing companies (DH Autolead, Donghae Metal, Daeseung Precision), among industry, academia, research, and government partners, to verify real-world applicability.

Yang O-bong, President of JBNU, stated, 'We have established an open demonstration infrastructure that directly connects the university's research capabilities to industrial field applications,' and added, 'Through linkage with the Jeonbuk AX project, we will practically lead the transformation of regional manufacturing.'

Kim Sun-tae, Director of the Project Group (Department of Software Engineering, JBNU), also explained, 'Physical AI is a domain where AI links perception, judgment, and action in physical systems, and the outcomes are fed back as data to jointly enhance performance and reliability.' He added, 'The demonstration lab will operate as a field testbed that rapidly trials heterogeneous robot collaborative operations and process automation scenarios and verifies their applicability to industry.'