According to the annual survey by World Robotics 2024, South Korea now has 1,102 robots for every 10,000 employees, making it the world's number one country in using technology instead of human labour to do tasks.

South Korea now has twice the number of robots working in its factories than any other country. Only Singapore has been close to South Korea regarding robots, with 770 of such technology per 10,000 workers.

China is the world's largest market, with 2,76,288 robots installed in 2023, representing 51 per cent of global installations.

Japan remained the second largest robot market, with 46,106 units installed in 2023.

India saw rapid growth in robot installations, with the rate increasing 59 per cent annually to 8,510 units in 2023.

The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) said: "Robot density has increased by five per cent on average each year since 2018 [in South Korea]. With world-renowned electronics and strong automotive industries, the Korean economy relies on the two largest customers for industrial robots."

The researchers noted that the average robot density has more than doubled globally over the last seven years, increasing from 74 to 162 units per 10,000 employees.

South Korea has also introduced robots into other industries, and machines fill roles everywhere, from hospitals to restaurants.

It follows massive government investment in the Korean robotics industry, which the government sees as a way to address its shrinking working-age population caused by low birth rates.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy in South Korea announced the Fourth Intelligent Robot Basic Plan, which aims to invest $2.4 billion in the public and private sectors by the end of the decade.

"This initiative outlines the development direction for the robot industry across key industries, ranging from manufacturing to services, agriculture, logistics, healthcare, defence, and social safety," stated a report published in August by the International Trade Administration.

"It includes the goal to establish an efficient system for securing technology to raise the local manufacturing rate of core robot parts from the current 44 per cent to 80 per cent by 2030."