Jeonbuk National University positions physical AI at core of global leadership bid

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province — Inside a manufacturing test lab at Jeonbuk National University, robots move with synchronized precision across a factory floor designed to mimic a real industrial site. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) shuttle components between workstations, weaving through production lines without human guidance. Nearby, robotic arms pick up, assemble and inspect parts in a continuous sequence, while cameras and sensors track every movement in real time. The machines communicate with one another, make decisions based on real-time data and adjust on the fly. It is not a commercial factory — not yet. It is an 846-square-meter manufacturing technology test lab designed to replicate real industrial conditions and determine whether physical artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are ready for deployment on actual production floors. The facility sits at the center of Jeonbuk National University's push into physical AI, a field gaining momentum nationally as President Lee Jae Myung works to position Korea as a global leader in the field. Through its test lab and industry-